§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Since your 12 o'clock meeting, there have been reports of civilian casualties and of further military action over Iraq. Ought it not to be made clear to the House whether we are in a state of war? If we are not, and there is a direct hit or a malfunction by a Tornado, the pilots, British or American, will be in a simply parlous position. Have you had any request from the Foreign Office to make a statement either about the military situation in Iraq or about the reports of Iraqi threats against Saudi Arabia and Kuwait? Perhaps this is a matter of paramount importance.
§ Madam SpeakerI have not had any request from the Foreign Office to make a statement today on that issue. We have tomorrow to look to, but, as far as I know, there is no statement forthcoming.
§ Mr. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Have you read the report by Oxford Economic Forecasting and the London business school, stating that we are already technically in a recession? Have you received any request from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to come to the House and explain how a golden economic legacy could have been so quickly transformed?
§ Madam SpeakerI fear that the hon. Gentleman is seeking to prolong debate rather than to raise a point of order. Let us move on.