§ Mr. Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, of which I have given you prior notice. I am indebted to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Harris), who, as you know, alerted me to the matter that I wish to raise. Last Thursday, the hon. Gentleman, who is a good cross-party friend of mine, had a researcher, Donald Campbell, working from his constituency office and seeking to access his parliamentary e-mail. Having logged on to the parliamentary data and video network, however, the researcher was amazed to find that constituency files relating to my constituency work had been opened to him. Obviously, that had not been his intention.
I have discussed the matter with the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart and we are not sure whether this very serious breach of confidentiality occurred because only three Members' names feature between us in the alphabetical list of Members' names or because both of us have the wisdom to employ Scots parliamentary assistants who share the name Campbell. Whichever is the reason, I am sure that you, Mr. Speaker, will share my concern that the parliamentary data and video network must be completely secure. We have written a joint letter to the head of the network, but as a matter of urgency, may I ask you to make your own inquiries so that the constituents of all hon. Members know that the system will be secure? Of course, no harm was done on this occasion, but on other occasions constituents need to know that only people authorised to log on in working for an individual Member will see that Member's constituency files.
§ Mr. SpeakerI thank the hon. Gentleman for bringing this matter to my attention. It is a very serious matter that has serious implications, as he pointed out. I have instructed the Serjeant at Arms, who is responsible for these matters, to conduct a thorough and complete investigation, and I will get back to the hon. Gentleman.
§ Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Have you received any indication from the Secretary of State for Health that a statement will be made about the shortage of suppliers of reading spectacles, or, alternatively, a request from the Leader of the House and other ageing Cabinet Ministers asking that the size of the Dispatch Box be increased, raising it to a height at which their papers are brought within their field of vision, so that they do not have to plant rather incongruous volumes on top of it to enable them to avoid using reading spectacles when making their statements?
§ Mr. SpeakerIf the hon. Gentleman has any problem with reading spectacles, there is a good company in Glasgow.