§ Mr. Damian Green (Ashford)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I seek your guidance. Yesterday afternoon, while the House was discussing the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, the Government issued a press release that gave details of significant changes to the Bill in the context of the protection of areas of outstanding natural beauty—a subject that was discussed at length in Committee. They further announced to the press that they would not bring those amendments before this House, but would table them in the other place. Even by the standards of this Government, that is breathtaking contempt for the House and a clear sign of the Government's desire to avoid democratic scrutiny of their legislation. Have you been given any indication of how the Government intend to rectify this latest insult to the House of Commons?
§ Madam SpeakerI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving me notice of his point of order, but I do not think that the matter about which he has complained to me calls for a ruling from the Chair. Nothing irregular has occurred and the House will have an opportunity, in due course, to consider the amendments that will be tabled in the House of Lords.