HC Deb 15 September 2003 vol 410 c591 3.30 pm
Mr. Michael Ancram (Devizes)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I am confident that it will not have escaped your notice that yesterday's edition of The Mail on Sunday set out in terms a personal minute from the Foreign Secretary, dated 17 March this year, to the Prime Minister, in which he urged the Prime Minister to stop short of military engagement in the Iraq war. As you will be aware, the very next day, on 18 March, at column 901 of the Official Report, the Foreign Secretary told the House on a Government motion authorising United Kingdom military engagement in Iraq: I am as certain as I can that the Government's course of action is right."—[Official Report, 18 March 2003; Vol. 401, c. 901.] Given the apparent irreconcilable contradiction between the Foreign Secretary's personal minute and his statement to this House, has he requested to come to the House to make a personal statement to explain why he expressed one view on this major issue to the Prime Minister on one day and a totally opposite view to the House on the next day, and to clear up which of them accurately reflected his view?

Mr. Speaker

It is for any Minister to decide when he or she wishes to make a statement. It is not a matter for me to be drawn into at this stage.

Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. On a House of Commons point, when such grave charges as these are laid, do not Ministers owe it to the House to say one thing or the other, whether it is true or false, because it is deeply unsatisfactory that such grave charges should be left in limbo?

Mr. Speaker

I have already said to the right hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) that this is not a matter for the Chair.

Mr. Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker—

Mr. Speaker

I have said to two Members that this is not a point of order, but I will listen to the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Can you confirm that although the information that my right hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) has just used came to us from only one source, that would not have been a bar from the Government making a statement?

Mr Speaker

As I said, I will not be drawn into this matter.