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Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Michael Morris): The hon. Gentleman seeks advice from the Chair on a matter that is not really for the Chair. It is a point of argument and debate that the hon. Gentleman should pursue in the various ways open to him, of which he is especially well aware.
Dr. Jeremy Bray (Motherwell, South): Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan): Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. There can be nothing further, unless it is a new aspect.
Mr. Salmond: On a new aspect of last Thursday's statement, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Much of the statement concerned the appointment of Professor Hugh Pennington of Aberdeen university to head the inquiry team--an appointment that has been widely welcomed because of the professor's expertise. However, it has since emerged that, on Thursday, the Secretary of State did not tell us that a research project into E. coli 0157 by Professor Pennington was turned down by the Government as recently as this summer.
Is it not relevant to order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that the Secretary of State has been less than fully forthcoming to the House in respect of those questions of appointments and research? Does not a Minister have an obligation to give us full disclosure, however embarrassing that might be for the Government?
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
I have to give the hon. Gentleman the same answer as I gave the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson).
Dr. Bray:
On a further aspect, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
I shall take one further aspect, but it must be a new one.
Dr. Bray:
It is a new one, and also one of current clinical importance.
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On Thursday, the day that the Secretary of State made his statement, the health board made it clear that all the cases that had been confirmed were traceable to the principal outlets named the previous Monday. On new cases confirmed since last Thursday, the health board has made no statement about what were the possible sources of infection, so information is still not being given systematically as to what the routes of infection have been. Surely the Secretary of State can be asked to account for that.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
What the Secretary of State is asked to account for is entirely up to the Secretary of State. It is certainly not a matter for the Chair.
Mrs. Llin Golding (Newcastle-under-Lyme):
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I rise to seek your advice and guidance. In this morning's post, I received this franked House of Commons envelope, which appeared to be addressed to "Mr. Don Golding". I am used to having my sex mixed up because of my Christian name--and my Christian name mixed up as well--but not usually by hon. Members.
I was therefore amazed, on opening the envelope, to discover that it was from the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway). I did not give the hon. Gentleman notice that I was going to raise this point of order. It was an invitation from himself and his wife to the Ealing, North Conservative association annual Christmas party. Delving into the envelope further, I discovered a Christmas card as well.
I was formerly a constituent of the hon. Gentleman, but I am afraid that I am no longer. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I seek your guidance on the use of headed House of Commons paper for a beanfeast for the Ealing, North Conservative association, delivery of Christmas cards and the use of House of Commons envelopes.
Mr. Harry Greenway (Ealing, North):
Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I am sad to say that, although the hon. Lady formerly lived in my constituency and I might well have addressed to her a Christmas invitation and a Christmas card at one time, I certainly did not on this occasion. As far as I know, I paid for all that is in the envelope, but I will check with the Serjeant at Arms, and if I have not done so, I will.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I ask the hon. Lady to submit such evidence as she has--all of it--to the Serjeant at Arms.
The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton):
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I wish to point out that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has written to the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson), strongly refuting the implication of his allegations. He certainly did not mislead the House.
My right hon. Friend visited Monklands general hospital this morning to congratulate the staff on the efficient and sympathetic way that they have handled the crisis, and he has offered the hon. Member for Hamilton and hon. Members from Scotland a further statement on the E. coli outbreak at the Scottish Grand Committee in Hamilton next Monday. There should then be an
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Several hon. Members:
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. We shall have no more points of order on that Scottish matter.
Mr. Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon):
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Is it on a separate issue, nothing to do with Scotland?
Mr. Wigley:
It is on a different issue, not to do with Scotland, although this principle arises in Scotland far too often.
It is to do with Wales and Welsh questions. Yet again today, of the first 12 questions called to the Secretary of State for Wales, who is answerable only once a month through this Chamber for his wide-ranging responsibilities, six were from English Tory Members of Parliament from English constituencies.
The point that I want to raise with you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, is this. Tory Members of Parliament are not only muscling in on the restricted time we have to question the Secretary of State, but dictating the agenda. Their questions were restricted to two areas only--the future government of Wales and inward investment and regeneration. By virtue of the fact that their questions were called, other important questions, such as those on the working week directive, and on bovine spongiform encephalopathy, which is vital to our--
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. I think I have got the gist of the complaint. I have to say to the hon. Gentleman, first, that I understand, having listened to Question Time, that all the Plaid Cymru Members were called.
Mr. Wigley:
That is not the point.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Secondly, it seems to me that the key issue is, did Opposition Members table sufficient questions in the first place? As only 15 Opposition Members tabled questions, it would have been very difficult for anyone to call any more.
Mr. Wigley:
I am sorry, but you have not addressed the question that I put to you.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. I call Mr. Harry Barnes.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. I called Mr. Harry Barnes.
Mr. Wigley:
I have a right to be answered on the point about the agenda being set by the Government.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. I must ask the hon. Gentleman to resume his seat.
Mr. Wigley:
This has to do with whether the people of Wales are getting answers to their questions--
2 Dec 1996 : Column 680
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. I have one last warning for the hon. Gentleman--he must resume his seat now. Thank you. Mr. Harry Barnes.
Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire):
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. When able-bodied people attend a lobby of this House, they can organise meetings in the Grand Committee Room. Today, a lobby of disabled people has assembled in Westminster Hall; they want to use the same procedures and hold a meeting in the Grand Committee Room. There is, however, room there for only 12 people in wheelchairs.
When I last looked, 21 people were still queuing, and all the wheelchair places had been taken. Could not loudspeakers and microphones be installed in Westminster Hall to allow hon. Members to address those who have turned up, holding green cards, to hear them? Such a move seems particularly important today, when the Disability Discrimination Act 1995--inadequate as it is--comes into operation.
I appeal to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to see that action is taken so that disabled people can be addressed by their Members of Parliament.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
I recognise the seriousness of the hon. Gentleman's point--
Mr. Brian Wilson (Cunninghame, North)
rose--
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. It is not customary to get up in the middle of an answer to another hon. Member.
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