Points of Order (Hansard, 4 November 2003)

§ Mr. Henry Bellingham (North-West Norfolk)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I should be grateful to receive your guidance on a matter than arose during Health questions today. I asked the Minister of State about an article in today's press concerning Dr. Lee Kuan Yew's wife receiving preferential treatment—it was a big story. He merely said that a Department of Health spokesman had issued a statement this morning. I did not hear that statement, and I do not believe that anyone else did. Surely he should have given me a proper answer. His answer was bland and arrogant.

§ Mr. Speaker
It is not for the Chair to be concerned with the quality of the answer; that is for the Minister.

§ Mr. Crispin Blunt (Reigate)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. It is not a point of order. I do not want an extension of Question Time. I would far rather that we got down the Order Paper at Question Time rather than taking questions at points of order. Is the hon. Gentleman asking about Question Time?

§ Mr. Blunt
It is further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker, because the Minister specifically said that the No. 10 press office had made an explanation—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I knew that it was not a proper point of order.

§ Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will know that I am not an infrequent questioner of various Departments in the House in both oral and written form. It was therefore disappointing that in the answer that I received to a written question to the Solicitor-General, not only was my name mis-spelt, but I was referred to as the hon. Member for Buckingham. Regular attendees of the Chamber and right hon. and hon. Members will know that there are clear differences between my hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) and myself. I wonder whether the record could be corrected.

§ Mr. Speaker
I can only say to the hon. Lady that I would never make that mistake.

§ Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Although I am full of admiration for my hon. Friend's remarkable political talents, may I put it to you that I do not think that my constituents would make that mistake either? I would be very alarmed if Ministers thought that I was the Member of Parliament for the Vale of York.

§ Mr. Speaker
I say no more.