§ Mrs. Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not against the Standing Orders and procedures of the House that on a day allocated for Opposition time, the Government should make a non-essential statement, particularly when the contents of that statement have been trailed all weekend in the media?
§ Mr. SpeakerI understand the hon. Lady's concern, but the statement is not against the procedures of the House. The Minister is entitled to make a statement before the House.
§ Mr. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerIt must be a point of order relating to the statement; otherwise I will take it after the statement.
§ Mr. Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst)Further to the original point of order, Mr. Speaker. Will you advise the House whether you have any discretion as to whether to allow a statement to be made? The Minister should ask your permission to make a statement, and the request should be judged not least by whether the statement is genuinely urgent, particularly on a day that is supposed to be allocated to the Opposition as a Supply day. Do you accept that in order to protect the House, there must be an element of discretion? We cannot be ruled and dictated to by Ministers.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have stated that the Minister is entitled to come before the House and make a statement.
§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. As both Speaker and Deputy Speaker, do you recollect that almost every week since 1997, the Tory Opposition have demanded a statement from the Government on this, that and the other? I have never heard so much hypocrisy in my life.