§ Mr. David Rendel (Newbury)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You will be aware of today's planted written question, which has already been answered, on the habitual residence test and its future. Is it not very wrong that, only a few weeks ago, the Government rejected an amendment to the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill that would have achieved very much the same as today's answer? Is it not also wrong that, given that the matter affects the right to benefits of 20,000 people every year and will save the Government some £20 million a year, the Government decided to release the information in a written answer, rather than making a full statement to the House, which would much better have enabled those whose rights are at risk to realise what is happening?
§ Madam SpeakerAs the hon. Gentleman is aware, it is for Ministers to decide whether to make such announcements by oral statement or by written answer. No doubt the hon. Gentleman, who I know has a keen interest in this, will find ways of following up this issue through the procedures of the House in due course.
§ Dr. Evan Harris (Oxford, West and Abingdon)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. The House has a great interest in issues relating to the sexual health of teenagers and the education and welfare of single parents. In recent weeks, there have been many opportunities for the Government to present on the Floor of the House their policies on that matter. Although a planted question was answered by the Prime Minister today, is it in order for the Government to leak the information to the newspapers, and to write an article for a newspaper this morning, before presenting the information to the House in a written answer or, preferably, in a statement, so that hon. Members on both sides of the House may hear those important matters first and have an opportunity to question the Government on them?
§ Madam SpeakerI am aware that the Prime Minister has answered a written question on this issue today. If there has been advance publicity about this, I most strongly deprecate it. Any such publicity could certainly have waited until tomorrow, as far as I am concerned.