§ Mr. Ian Bruce (South Dorset)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Perhaps you or Madam Speaker could make a statement to remind the House of the rules about whether hon. Members are allowed to ask particular questions if they have registered an interest. Anyone reading today's Hansard and the Register of Members' Interest will see the link between trade union sponsorship and questions asked, very much off message, by Labour Members—
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. There is a procedure for dealing with such complaints, and at this time the Floor of the House is not the place to do it.
§ Dr. Evan Harris (Oxford, West and Abingdon)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. In view of the reports in today's newspapers about the crisis in the nation's blood supply, the financial crisis within the National Blood Authority, and the news of the sacking of that authority's chief executive—which I heard this morning and which was not conveyed, to me at least, by ministerial letter—have you had a request from a Minister to make a statement to the House about that serious matter affecting the nation's blood supply and its management?
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerI have no knowledge of any statements to be made on that subject.
§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard (South-West Norfolk)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It would be helpful if the Leader of the House could explain what are the usual arrangements when the views of the House are sought by a Select Committee.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerIt is for the Leader of the House to respond in the way that she thinks fit.
§ Mr. Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst)Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I heard, as did my right hon. Friend the Member for South-West Norfolk (Mrs. Shephard), the Leader of the House tell us—in what I thought was a spirit of helpfulness—that the usual arrangements would apply. It is not unreasonable to ask for the House, including you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to be given guidance by the right hon. Lady as to what those arrangements are.
§ The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Ann Taylor)Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I cannot believe that right hon. and hon. Members with experience of government do not know that the Government always respond to Select Committee reports.
§ Sir Patrick CormackFurther to the point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. I have dealt with that point of order, and right hon. and hon. Members on both Front Benches have heard what has been said. This is becoming an extension of business questions.
§ Sir Patrick Cormackrose—
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerIs it a different point of order?
§ Sir Patrick CormackIt is, Mr. Deputy Speaker. There has been a confusion between a Government's 1129 response to a Select Committee report, which we all know about, and the Select Committee's opportunity to report. The Select Committee is a Committee of this House, set up by this House with a duty to report to it. When that Committee asks that this House advise it of its views, what opportunity has the House to do precisely that?
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerAs I have already made clear, those are simply requests for debates framed in different ways. It is for the Leader of the House to respond to those requests in the way that she deems fit. Now, perhaps, we can move to the main business.