§ Mr. Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, the Postal Services Bill received its First Reading in this House. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has been all over the media this morning, debating and discussing the Bill with the country. However, I was not able to get a copy of the Bill from the Vote Office, and will not be able to get one until later this morning.
Given the Government's general contempt for the House and their obsession with the media, can it be right that the procedures of the House encourage such practices? Should we not change our procedures so that, when Bills receive their First Reading, hon. Members are able to get copies of them?
§ Madam SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman is quite right. Our procedures have been such that, when a Bill receives its First Reading, it is not made available immediately. The hon. Gentleman may have a very good point to make, and perhaps he will take it up with the Procedure Committee. We talk about modernisation, and a modern practice such as the hon. Gentleman has described can be employed here.