§ Mr. David Lidington accordingly presented a Bill to make the use of imperial weights and measures no longer subject to proceedings for a criminal offence: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time on Friday 9 June, and to be printed [Bill 104].
§ Mr. Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Can you confirm that it is still the expectation of the House that if a Minister misleads the House, even if he be Prime Minister, he will set the record straight at the earliest possible opportunity? Can you tell us what the earliest possible opportunity would be for the Prime Minister to set the record straight and to correct his blatantly untrue statement that the previous Government had neglected international debt?
Every major initiative, including the Ottawa terms, the Trinidad terms and the sub-Saharan Africa initiative, was introduced by the previous Government, who set an example to the world by rescinding £1 billion of Government debt and converting it into loans—the biggest relief by any country in the world.
§ Madam SpeakerThe second half of the right hon. Gentleman's so-called point of order is certainly not a matter for me; it is a matter for argument and he has put his case on the record. Any Minister, even the Prime Minister, is expected to make a correction at the earliest opportunity if he has inadvertently misled the House, and he could do so by means of a written question if necessary. The right hon. Gentleman has made his point and placed on record his own opinion of the exchange.
§ Mr. Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think that concerns about the quality of the recording equipment in the House are a matter for you, so I want to raise as a point of order what appears in column 340 of Hansard of 29 March. I am sure that you will recall that during Prime Minister's questions on that day there was an interruption during a question asked by the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) from the Liberal Democrat Front Bench. Hansard records that there was an interruption when Labour Members in fact called out, "Boring." I am sure that you will recall, Madam Speaker, that your reply was, "Boring or not, I want to hear the hon. Gentleman", but in Hansard, that simply appears as:
Order. This is a Parliament and hon. Members must be heard.—[Official Report, 29 March 2000; Vol. 347, c. 340.]Will you state whether the recording equipment should be checked?
§ Madam SpeakerI have always believed that whatever Members want to say in the House, providing that it is said in parliamentary terms, should be heard by the House. There is a difference between listening and hearing. Hon. Members do not have to listen, but Members who are speaking have to be heard, and I am sure that the House appreciates that distinction.
§ Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerMy day would not be complete without one from the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. BercowI am grateful to you, Madam Speaker, and I shall take that as a back-handed compliment. You said that an inadvertent error could be corrected by means of a written answer, and that was extremely helpful to the 980 House. Will you clarify beyond doubt that in the event of such an inadvertent error by a Minister, including the Prime Minister, it is that Minister's responsibility to ensure that a written question is tabled allowing correction via an answer?
§ Madam SpeakerI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave a moment ago.