HC Deb 25 March 1999 vol 328 cc535-6
Mr. Desmond Swayne (New Forest, West)

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. In his response to the report of the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs on multi-layered democracy, the Secretary of State for Scotland dwelt not on the substance of the report, but on his concern that it had been leaked. He did not say that it had also been leaked to him. Have you received any notice, Madam Speaker, that the Secretary of State will come to the House to explain exactly how he came to have a copy of the report from the hon. Member for Inverness, East, Nairn and Lochaber (Mr. Stewart), and to say whether he asked the hon. Gentleman for a copy or put any pressure on him to provide one? If you have received no such notice, can we expect a personal statement from the Secretary of State?

Madam Speaker

I think that there will be no personal statement. As the hon. Gentleman will know, this is now a matter for the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs.

Mr. John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings)

On a point of order, Madam Speaker—

Madam Speaker

Order. There has been a great deal of pressure from Members in all parts of the House for the debate on Kosovo, and I deliberately curtailed Business Questions in order to call all who wish to speak on this crucial issue. I do not want to waste the time of the House with frivolous points of order. If a point of order is serious I must take it, but I hope that hon. Members on both sides of the House will take the matter seriously, and will not use the House's time to raise frivolous points of order.

I now call the Foreign Secretary, who has come here specially to open the debate on Kosovo.

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