§ Mrs. Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Have you received a request from the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to come to the House and report the progress made in the various meetings that he has held over the past 10 days on the subject of Rover? You will know that the right hon. Gentleman was due to open this afternoon's debate on the Budget but, because the Government has withdrawn him, there will now be no Budget debate dedicated to business and industry. Are you able to use your influence to ensure that the House is kept apprised of this matter, which is very important, especially in the midlands?
§ Madam SpeakerI am not aware that the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is seeking to make a statement on the subject to which the hon. Lady referred. However, those on the Treasury Bench will have heard the plea of the hon. Lady, who speaks officially on these matters for the Opposition, and perhaps we shall be hearing something soon.
§ Mr. Bob Russell (Colchester)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I seek your guidance and protection for Back-Bench Members in respect of oral questions. Two weeks ago, I drew Question 7 for this afternoon, but my question was subsequently removed from the Order Paper. The question had to do with Wembley stadium, so who should answer it if not the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport or the Minister for Sport? I understand that the question was transferred to another Department. Do you not agree that in such cases the matter should be discussed with the hon. Member concerned?
§ Madam SpeakerI cannot agree that there should be discussion with the hon. Member concerned. I believe that the question was not only about Wembley, but also about rail links to the stadium. It is for the Minister involved to determine whether a question should be transferred. I understand that the hon. Gentleman tabled his question on 13 March, and that it was transferred on 15 March. I accept his word as an hon. Member that he was not informed of the transfer until this very day, and I very much deprecate that. I have sympathy with the hon. Gentleman's position, and I hope that he will take my remarks this afternoon from the Official Report and use them to make the strongest possible representations to the Secretary of State concerned.