§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord)I have to notify the House, in accordance with the Royal Assent Act 1967, that Her Majesty has signified her Royal Assent to the following Acts:
- Finance Act 2004
- Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004
- Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004
- Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004
- Patents Act 2004
- Health Protection Agency Act 2004
- Traffic Management Act 2004
- Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004
- Energy Act 2004
- Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004
§ 2.8 pm
§ Mr. Oliver Heald (North-East Hertfordshire) (Con)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Earlier, in business questions, I asked for an oral statement about the ombudsman's request to the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the hon. Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) to extend her jurisdiction to include the role of the Government Actuary's Department in relation to Equitable Life. A written ministerial statement has now appeared in the Library, which says that the Cabinet Office Minister will extend the jurisdiction to include the Government Actuary's Department. However, it does not say when the necessary order will be laid. This is a matter of great urgency that affects hundreds of thousands of the constituents of hon. Members on both sides of the House. Have you had any indication that the Minister will be giving further information to the House today about when that order is to be laid, so that there will be no further delay in this regard?
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerI have no information about the matter that the hon. Gentleman has just raised, but he has raised it in the House today and put it clearly on the record. No doubt the people responsible for these matters will respond to it.