§ Mr. Gerald Howarth (Aldershot)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I want to raise a point of order relating to the Green Paper that was issued today by the Ministry of Defence. This morning, The Daily Telegraph carried a large article entitled, "Agency will help arms firms tap civilian markets", in which it was reported that the Secretary of State for Defence was likely to unveil plans today to set up a defence diversification agency involving the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, whose headquarters is in my constituency of Aldershot.
I inquired whether a statement would be made to the House today, but was told that the announcement would be made by way of written answer. When I made further inquiries, I discovered that a press conference was held this morning at the Ministry of Defence, at which journalists were able to question Ministers about these very serious proposals, which go to the heart of the defence industry. Members of Parliament, however, including many who have DERA sites in their constituencies, have had no opportunity to question Ministers. It is clear that the article in The Daily Telegraph today is based extensively on briefings provided by the Ministry of Defence.
On a point of principle, you have made it clear to the House that you expect important announcements to be made first to the House rather than to the world outside, although I accept that we are talking about a Green Paper. I would be grateful if you would rule on this matter, because I feel that we have been denied an opportunity to question Ministers that was given to others outside the House.
§ Madam SpeakerAs the hon. Gentleman said, it is a Green Paper. According to my inquiries, the press conference to which he refers took place after the written answer and the Green Paper were made available to Members of Parliament. I understand that all the proper procedures were correctly followed.
§ Mr. HowarthFurther to that point of order, Madam Speaker. It is true that the Green Paper was placed in the Vote Office shortly before midday, but it is not true that the written question and answer were placed in the Library before the press conference started. The Library has informed me that the question and answer arrived at 12.30 pm, which is half an hour after the press conference started.
§ Madam SpeakerThe question was:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to publish the Government's Green Paper on Defence Diversification.The answer was:We have today published our Green Paper 'Defence Diversification: Getting the most out of defence technology', as Command Paper No. 3861. Copies are available from the Vote Office. There will now be a period of consultation.
§ Mr. Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I seek your assistance, as the guardian of Back Benchers, over the debate on Tuesday evening on individual savings accounts and personal equity plans, and to the specific procedures used by the Paymaster General.
1208 I tabled a written question to the Paymaster General last month, asking whether the findings of the consultation exercise on ISAs and PEPs that ended at the end of January could be published and the full findings placed in the Library for the use of all Members. He refused that request, and said merely that a summary of submissions would be made available, probably after the Budget.
It was clear on Tuesday evening that the Paymaster General was using submissions from investment houses and individuals, and quoting them selectively. The gist of the full documents was in fact rather contrary to the case that he was trying to make. Would it not be in the best interests of good debate in the House if he made all those consultation findings fully available in the Library, so that we can all be fully informed for debate in the future?
§ Madam SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman does not give me the status of the papers to which he refers. If they are state papers, of course they must be made available. It appears from what he says that they are not state papers, so they do not have to be made available. Let me make it clear to the hon. Gentleman and to the House that I will not take points of order about the quality of ministerial answers. That is not a matter for the Chair.
§ Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You may recall that, about two weeks ago, I raised with the Leader of the House a matter relating to the slackness and impertinence of some Ministers in not signing correspondence to Members of Parliament. The right hon. Lady, extremely courteously, said that she would make representations on behalf of both Government and Opposition Members. Since that complaint, I have had five unsigned letters from Ministers.
I regard it as wholly unacceptable, as I am sure you do, Madam Speaker, that, when constituents write to Members of Parliament to make inquiries of Ministers and the Government on matters relating to Government policy, we do not receive duly signed letters. Will you, on behalf of the whole House, make representations to the Government asking them to cease that practice forthwith, and to ensure that Ministers sign their letters?
§ Mr. Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath)rose—
§ Madam SpeakerNo, I can deal with this, thank you.
I am entirely in sympathy with the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames). It happens to me as Speaker that I get letters unsigned by Ministers, and my office sends them back. It may delay matters, but it is worth it in the long run. Those on the Government Front Bench know my views on this, as do various Secretaries of State. I suggest that all hon. Members do likewise.
§ Mr. Gerald Bermingham (St. Helens, South)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. This afternoon, I watched the proceedings of the House on television in my office. I noticed that some hon. Members are heard clearly on the microphone system, but others, sitting in other parts of the House, are not so clearly heard. One example this afternoon was the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans): it was hard to hear what he was saying. I put that down not to editorial interference by the BBC, but to bad positioning of the microphones.
1209 The other day, an elderly constituent raised the issue with me. I carried out an experiment, and I am now reporting the findings. I ask your assistance, Madam Speaker, in suggesting to the BBC that it should use better or more directional microphone systems, so that all hon. Members can be heard, even if they are talking rubbish.
§ Madam SpeakerThat is a most interesting point of order, but I would also encourage hon. Members to project their voices.
§ Mr. HawkinsFurther to the point of order raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames), Madam Speaker. You have said that you have been the victim of unsigned correspondence. This morning, in response to a letter I sent to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, I did not receive a letter, signed or unsigned: my letter was returned simply with a yellow, sticky, Post-it note attached, on which had been scrawled a note by some person in the office of the Secretary of State. I have no doubt that, had you received such a response, your views would have been even stronger than those you expressed about unsigned ministerial correspondence. Will you therefore reinforce the point that such practices are to be even more greatly deplored?
§ Madam SpeakerAs I have not received a sticky yellow note returning my correspondence, I can hardly comment.