Points of Order (Hansard, 28 March 2000)

§ Dr. Liam Fox (Woodspring)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Twice last week after the Prime Minister's statement on health, I raised a point of order about inaccuracies in the details that he gave. For example, he said that 7.6 per cent. of gross domestic product would be spent on the NHS. A Sunday newspaper confirmed that that figure was incorrect. "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" makes it clear that when misleading figures are given to the House, Ministers should provide a correct figure as soon as possible. Has the Prime Minister or any Minister suggested that that is to be done? It is disgraceful that figures are corrected in Sunday newspapers while the House is treated disdainfully.

§ Madam Speaker
If I understand the hon. Gentleman's point correctly, I believe that a correction is being made in answer to written question 11. I have also gained the impression that the hon. Gentleman may hear from the Prime Minister, although I am not clear about that. However, there is a question on the Order Paper that relates to the hon. Gentleman's point.

§ Mr. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. With characteristic honesty, the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart), said that 182 trusts would benefit from the modernisation programme for accident and emergency departments. However, the Department of Health issued a press release stating that all accident and emergency departments would be modernised. That is obviously an untruth. [Interruption.]

§ Madam Speaker
Order. These are questions of argument, which I cannot resolve. If the hon. Gentleman has a genuine point, he should make it by using the Order Paper and tabling a question or an early-day motion to draw the Department's attention to it.

§ Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Further to what my hon. Friend the Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) said—

§ Madam Speaker
Order. I deal with one point of order at a time; I have dealt with that point. [Interruption.] Order. I am on my feet. Is the hon. Gentleman making a different point of order?

§ Mr. Bercow
Yes.

§ Madam Speaker
It is a different a point of order: therefore I must hear it.

§ Mr. Bercow
On 12 January, the Prime Minister wrongly told the House that 170,000 young people had left the new deal to go into unsubsidised employment. I have corresponded with the Prime Minister about that. Department for Education and Employment figures have shown his comments to be factually incorrect. My concern is for the equal treatment of all hon. Members. Although my hon. Friend the Member for Woodspring is a splendid fellow, if he gets an apology for an error, is not it right that I should also receive—

§ Madam Speaker
Order. I made no point about anyone receiving an apology. I said that there was a question on the Order Paper, which I assumed would lead to a correction, and that the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) might receive a letter from the Prime Minister. I do not know the contents of that letter: they are between a Minister and an hon. Member, and are nothing to do with me.

§ Mr. Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Several weeks ago, I raised the question of the roadworks in Parliament square and the obstruction to hon. Members who are trying to reach the House. A trench has been progressing down Millbank from Lambeth bridge over the past couple of weeks and is now approaching Chancellor's Gate.
It appears to me that, within the next day or two, that trench will prevent Members from turning right from Millbank through Chancellor's Gate. Many Members use that route during Divisions when arriving by motor car. Have the Officers of the House had any further discussions with Westminster city council? If not, would you ask them, as a matter of urgency, to do so?

§ Madam Speaker
I remember the hon. Gentleman's point of order and it was a very sensible one, too. It resulted in our having closer relationships on such matters with Westminster city council. I am not aware of the matter of which he speaks, but he can be sure that I shall make inquiries and do what I can to be helpful.