§ Mr. Roger Gale (North Thanet)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You heard the Home Secretary say that he believed that there was a fundamental difference between Government White Papers and other documents. Will you rule from the Chair, so that the House and Ministers are absolutely clear, that all Government papers should be made available to Members of Parliament before being given to the press?
§ Madam SpeakerThe House and all Ministers are well aware of my strong views on that matter. All Government documents and all documents handled by the Government should be made available to the House before going into public circulation.
§ Mr. Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You were recently kind enough to allow me to raise a point of order on an issue of great concern to my constituents—the future of the buildings of the staff college in Camberley. As you know, I tabled a question on the subject which was, unfortunately, not reached during Defence questions this afternoon. You will be concerned to learn of the information that has subsequently reached me: that, during the few days before the local press, quoting extensively an MOD spokeswoman, reported on the proposal to convert the staff college into luxury flats, there was a briefing by MOD employees of senior local government officers; and that, during that briefing, an MOD official spoke to officers of the local council and indicated that among those who must not, in any circumstances, be told of the proposal were elected councillors of Surrey Heath council and the local Member of Parliament. Have you received any indication from MOD Ministers about whether they propose to make any further statements about the matter? Will you express your concern that, once again—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I have heard the hon. Gentleman's previous point of order on the subject and I regret that his very direct question was not reached this afternoon—to be frank, I had hoped that we would make better progress on Defence questions. It is not for me to 36 comment on the issue he raises; it is a matter for exchange of views across the Floor of the House. May I suggest that the hon. Gentleman apply for an Adjournment debate, in which he will be able to debate the issue fully, rather than confine himself to tabling parliamentary questions?
§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You may recollect that, back in 1986, when American bombers left this country to raid Tripoli and Benghazi, there were many eloquent points of order raised by then Opposition Front Benchers about the precise nature of the arrangement between Her Majesty's Government at that time and the American Administration. Have you received any requests for a statement, or for a question to be answered, in respect of the exact terms of reference of the B52s that apparently might operate from British soil? Given that those huge bombers wreak absolute devastation wherever they go, is not the whole relationship between ourselves and the Americans on the matter of prime importance?
§ Madam SpeakerI am afraid that my memory does not extend to that particular situation in 1986. However, Question 2 on the Order Paper referred to the deployment of personnel in south-east Europe, and I listened very carefully to the Secretary of State for Defence, who widened the scope of the question. The hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) was fortunate enough to catch my eye on that question and he put his point to the Secretary of State. I have not heard from the Government that Ministers are seeking to make a statement on that issue at this time.
§ Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I seek your guidance in light of inquiries that have already been made. In view of the importance that you attach to statements being made to the House before their contents are conveyed to the public, do you agree that it is of the utmost importance that the outcome of the leak investigation, which the Home Secretary announced this afternoon, should be reported first to Parliament before it is revealed to the public? Pursuant to that point, Madam Speaker, have you had any indication that that is the intention of Ministers?
§ Madam SpeakerI have had no indication of that sort and it is for the Home Secretary to determine the matter.