§ Mr. David Wilshire (Spelthorne)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, of which I gave you notice earlier today. I can confirm that I have also drawn the matter to the attention of the Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Leslie).
Yesterday, I received a letter from the Minister's diary secretary at the Department for Constitutional Affairs. It says:
I am writing to inform you that Christopher Leslie will be visiting your constituency on 12th November 2003 for the opening of the Criminal Justice Centre in Staines. The Minister will be present between 13.00 and 17.00.I would be grateful if you could send me any local information that you think will be relevant to Mr. Leslie's visit.Mr. Speaker, you are the guardian of the interests of Members of this House. In the past, you have said that it is unreasonable not to give Members sensible notice of a ministerial visit. I believe that 24 hours is inadequate; and it adds insult to injury when a Minister asks one to do his homework 24 hours before he makes the visit. A formal opening is not something that is conjured out of the air at 24 hours' notice. Is there anything that you can do to persuade Ministers to give Members of this House sensible, adequate notice when they visit constituencies?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman has put it on the record that in his opinion 24 hours is not sensible notice, so whenever the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Leslie) appears, or tries to appear, in his constituency, he will give more notice. I would not like to lay down an amount of time that should he considered reasonable: it is up to individual Members to decide what they feel is 306 reasonable in these matters. From time to time, I could do with a Minister visiting my constituency—perhaps I can put that on the record as well.
§ Mr. Andrew Mackay (Bracknell)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will have noticed that in the newspapers today, and on the radio yesterday and today, there have been very serious allegations about the Minister for Children. A threatening letter that she sent to the chairman of the governors of the BBC has been published, in which she slurred the whistleblower in the child abuse scandal in Islington. Has she asked you if she can make a personal statement from the Dispatch Box? If not, she should, because it is an abuse.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat may be the right hon. Gentleman's opinion, but there is no need for the right hon. Lady to make a personal statement. It is not a matter for the Chair.
§ Brian White (Milton Keynes, North-East)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I draw to your attention the latest Liberal Democrat money-raising scam? I am not often speechless, but on Monday my local Liberal Democrat council presented me with a bill for £63 for taking up the case of a woman whose friend's daughter had died. Will you make it clear to the Liberal Democrat administration how seriously you view any interference with the work of a Member of Parliament, and suggest that they make an apology in their next Focus newsletter?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am glad to hear that the hon. Gentleman's council has accepted that a mistake has been made in trying to charge him for a legitimate inquiry on behalf of a constituent—[Interruption.] Order. I do not think that it is necessary for me to comment further, except to say that I hope that Glasgow city council reads Hansard.