HC Deb 17 February 2000 vol 344 c1118 1.20 pm
Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley)

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. As you will know, the Representation of the People Bill is before Parliament. The Local Government Association has issued a press release listing the number of areas that will be piloting some of the experiments at the May elections. The Home Office has not issued a statement; nor has a Minister come to the House to make a statement. Indeed, there has been no written answer to any parliamentary question on the list of pilot studies that will take place in May. Is it not appropriate that Parliament be told before newspapers, the Press Association and a number of other bodies about which pilots will take place in May?

Madam Speaker

The point that the hon. Gentleman makes is that a statement might have been made in the House. I hope that those on the Treasury Bench will have heard his comments.