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15 Sept 2004 : Column 1423
Speaker's Statement
10.6 pm
Mr. Speaker: I wish to make a brief statement about the incident that took place in the Chamber this afternoon, which was linked to today's demonstration in Parliament square. I visited the square myself, and I am grateful to the police for the efforts that they made to keep the approaches to the House clear. However, eight men gained access through St. Stephen's entrance, using a forged letter inviting them to a meeting on the Committee Corridor. Once there, they were led to the small stairway at the north end of the Corridor, probably by a passholder, who was clearly exceeding his or her authority. On the stairway, the men took off their jackets and left them behind.
The eight men rushed the Chamber entrance. Three were tackled and overpowered by Doorkeepers on duty. The remaining five entered the No Lobby and from there gained access to the Chamber, where they, too, were overpowered. On behalf of the House I want to pay tribute to the Officers and Doorkeepers concerned for their prompt and effective reaction. They demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism and the House, I know, is grateful to them.
The eight men have been detained and are being interviewed by the police. When it was last reported to me, none of them had provided the police with his true name and address. None of the intruders possessed any offensive weapons. Clearly, the intrusion was a carefully planned operation and the Serjeant at Arms has asked the Metropolitan police to conduct a full investigation. It is not yet clear whether the passholder who apparently assisted the intruders was a member of staff, a member of the press or an employee of a Member: all those possibilities are being investigated.
For tomorrow's sitting, I have asked the Metropolitan police to deploy a significant additional squad of police officers in the immediate vicinity of the Chamber until the House rises. Leave for security officers will be cancelled, if necessary, to provide an immediate assurance that such an incident cannot be repeated.
Mr. Oliver Heald (North-East Hertfordshire) (Con): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In the light of your statement, will you confirm that you would deplore any briefing by hon. Members on either side of the House to the effect that a Conservative Member of Parliament let the invaders in—[Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker: Order. Let the hon. Gentleman speak.
Mr. Heald: It appears that such briefing is occurring, and there is not a scrap of evidence to support it.
Mr. Speaker: As I said in my statement, I am investigating all these possibilities; I ask the House to allow me to do so.
Mr. Tony Banks (West Ham) (Lab):
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. When you are considering the disgraceful events that we witnessed, will you also consider the fact that a female Member of this House was seriously assaulted when she was attempting to enter and was punched by one of the thugs outside? If
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this sort of behaviour is allowed to go on, all our democratic institutions are at risk. I ask you to interview the Member concerned to get all the details.
Jim Dowd (Lewisham, West) (Lab): Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. In your statement, you announced that the people who violated—I put it no more strongly than that—this Chamber had a letter of invitation to a meeting on the Committee Corridor. I presume that whoever—
Mr. Speaker: Order. I shall stop the hon. Gentleman. The letter was forged. I say to the House that it is best not to question the Speaker on a Speaker's statement. I stated my case and the House should bear with me. We have a day to get through tomorrow, and it is important that we see that day through until the Adjournment. I ask the House to allow me to get through that day. When we come back we can have a reasoned discussion about how we proceed, but questioning me on my statement does the House no good.
Mr. Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire) (Con): Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Will you take very careful note of any new statement that people who say they have information give to the broadcast media tonight and ensure that anybody who seems to have been complicit is fully investigated, even though they may not necessarily be connected with the House?
Mr. Speaker: When I opened my statement I said that the Metropolitan Police Commissioner would be involved in a full investigation.
Peter Bottomley (Worthing, West) (Con): On a separate point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: That is a refreshing change.
Peter Bottomley: May I put it to you, Sir, that the greatest risk today was of people being crushed to death against the railings outside the House? The police saved the demonstrators from that; otherwise, we might have had a repetition of the Hillsborough, Heysel or El Salvador tragedies.
Mr. Speaker: That is not a point of order.
Phil Sawford (Kettering) (Lab): On a separate but related point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the fact that masked intruders were seen in the vicinity of my house and the home of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Member for Corby (Phil. Hope) last night and that they have publicly threatened to come back to intimidate my family and that of my hon. Friend, will you review the personal security of hon. Members and their families when they are not in the House?
Mr. Speaker:
I am always worried about any hon. Member who might feel threatened. However, I urge hon. Members not to raise such matters on the Floor of the House but to come and see me privately. I shall give every assistance and help that is possible.
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Mr. Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: I hope that it is not on the same matter because we must move on. I urge the hon. Member not to make it if it is on the same point.
PETITIONS
Road Safety
10.15 pm
Mr. Tom Clarke (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): I am obliged, on behalf of more than 11,000 of my constituents, to present a petition, which is self-explanatory. It is my duty and privilege to present it.
To the House of Commons.
The Petition of residents of Coatbridge and Chryston declares
That the Petitioners support campaigns for justice on behalf of victims of road accidents and their families and friends.
The Petitioners further declare their strong support for campaigns to highlight the difficulties involved in defining words such as "dangerous", "careless" and "negligent" in the context of motoring offences, and their call for new terms that reflect the seriousness of such offences.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons pass legislation for the new motoring offences of motor vehicle manslaughter and aggravated motor vehicle manslaughter.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
To lie upon the Table.
Royal United Hospital Bath
10.18 pm
Dr. Andrew Murrison (Westbury) (Con):
I have been asked by Councillor Chris Watt to present a petition that he has raised and that has been signed by 1,103 people in the area served by the Royal United hospital Bath.
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To the House of Commons.
The Petition of the "Clear the Debt Campaign" declares
That the Royal United Hospital Bath has debt of £24.8 million, which it may have to pay back to the Government at a future date.
The Petitioners further declare that if the hospital is required to repay the money, cuts for local health services in the Bath area will be necessary; and that cancellation of the debt would remove uncertainty surrounding local health services and future cuts.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Health to review the requirement that the debt incurred by the Royal United Hospital Bath be recovered.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
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