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Mr. Simon Thomas (Ceredigion) (PC): May I ask the Leader of the House to ensure that, when the cross-party motion to impeach the Prime Minister on high queens—[Interruption.] On high crimes and misdemeanours is prepared and laid before the House, there will be time to debate that motion in the proper manner? We heard yesterday that it was fine to use a 90-year-old Act to force through the Hunting Bill. Therefore, it is fine to use ancient procedures in the House properly to hold the Prime Minister to account. Now that Kofi Annan's announcement has stripped away the last fig leaf hiding the Leader of the House's embarrassment over this illegal war, surely it is right that Back Benchers should have a chance to hold the Prime Minister to account.

Mr. Hain: Back Benchers have the chance to hold the Prime Minister to account every week at Prime Minister's questions and during statements, which he frequently makes on all sorts of issues. As I explained—I assume that the hon. Gentleman was not present last week—the House authorities, the Clerk himself and others have made it absolutely clear that the impeachment process lapsed a long time ago. Plaid Cymru should concentrate on supporting the effort to rebuild Iraq and the creation of a democratic Iraq, instead of resorting to gimmicky proposals that have no relevance to the current situation.

Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire) (Lab): There is a great deal of disturbing news coming out of Iraq day by day, but there are signs of hope, too, none more so than the development of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions, the Iraqi TUC. As this matter will be discussed this week at the TUC conference and, I hope, at the Labour party conference, would it not be valuable to discuss it when we return? It is possible for us to agree on certain developments that should take place because those are not matters that divide people, unlike impeachment, inquests about the war or questions of illegality. Let us get together and assist what is taking place in Iraq towards democratisation.

Mr. Hain: I very much agree with my hon. Friend's sentiments, including his support for a strong Iraqi trade union movement. Indeed, I understand that Iraqi trade union representatives are at the TUC conference in Brighton this week. Democratisation of Iraq is a vital priority and my hon. Friend is right that the focus should be on establishing that. The Government are working hard to achieve a democratic Iraq, with trade union rights.

Mr. John Greenway (Ryedale) (Con): I thank the Leader of the House for what he said in response to my
 
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hon. Friend the Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) about the draft Gambling Bill. We have put a lot of work into it and I hope that we will have a Second Reading debate soon.

May I plead with the Leader of the House, given the length of the overspill, to find Government time for a debate on agriculture—it is a long time since we have had one on the Floor of the House—so that we can reflect on what for many has been a disastrous harvest, and on the implementation of the single farm payments under the common agricultural policy reforms?

Mr. Hain: I will certainly bear in mind the hon. Gentleman's request in respect of agriculture. Although my own constituency has limited farming, I am well aware of the devastating impact of the weather on the harvest during August. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is well aware of that, too, and will want to note carefully the points that the hon. Gentleman has made.

John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): This morning, the Department for Work and Pensions issued a written statement announcing the start of its process of sacking 30,000 employees. In the statement, it announced that 37 benefit offices, three contact centres and two Employer Direct sites will close. Therefore, by Christmas, thousands of workers who currently administer unemployment benefits will be drawing unemployment benefits themselves. That affects virtually every constituency in the country. May I suggest that it would have been better had that information been given via an oral statement to the House, so that we could have at least asked questions? May we have an assurance that there will be a debate on the matter when we return in a few weeks?

Mr. Hain: I accept that my hon. Friend has raised the matter properly with me. Obviously, he will have a chance to press the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions at questions and to apply for a debate, but the policy that the Government have announced has been discussed on the Floor of the House and reported to the House repeatedly, certainly since the Budget, and all the details of those changes have been fully explained.

Mr. David Heath (Somerton and Frome) (LD): Is there a possibility of a debate on the Environment Agency? I strongly support its work, but I fear that the resources and personnel are not available for it to do the tasks that we set it. My problem relates to a pollution incident in Somerton in my constituency. The agency admits that it failed in the initial licensing and in the monitoring, and it is now failing to meet the commitments that it has entered into with local people, with Somerton town council and with me to keep us informed of progress because it does not answer letters. I fear that there is a problem within the agency. Will we have an opportunity to discuss it at an early date?

Mr. Hain: The hon. Gentleman will be able to table questions to the Secretary of State on that matter and on the wider role of the Environment Agency fairly shortly after we return in October. No doubt he will take the opportunity to do so.

Mrs. Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby) (Lab): Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker—[Interruption.] I am sorry,
 
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Mr. Speaker. Will my right hon. Friend find time to assist me with the difficult problem that I have in relation to the port of Liverpool police and the transport police? The problem arises simply because these officers, who are notably police officers, cannot go to the police authority when they have employment-related difficulties. Any appeals that I have made so far to the Department of Trade and Industry and the Home Office on the matter have been rebutted. That splendid group of individuals are left in no-man's-land when it comes to their employment situation. That is unacceptable.

Mr. Hain: By a happy coincidence, the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Sutcliffe), is sitting on the Front Bench and heard my hon. Friend's elegant plea and cogent argument. I am sure that he will take close notice of it and that she will have the opportunity to press him and other Ministers further if she does not get satisfaction.

Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): I am delighted to hear that the Leader of the House backs peaceful demonstrations in Parliament square, as they are an important part of our democratic system, and he is a veteran of some peaceful protests himself, but in respect of ensuring the safety of people who come on demonstrations—the vast majority of people who come are peaceful—sadly, there are always some rotten apples, as we saw yesterday. Could new technology and closed-circuit television be used to assist the police in pinpointing the troublemakers, so that even after the demonstration they can be prosecuted and properly convicted? I understand that the independent Police Complaints Authority will look into any allegations of police abuse that may have occurred yesterday. Those same cameras may help—

Mr. Speaker: Order. Mr. Challen.

Mr. Colin Challen (Morley and Rothwell) (Lab): Whatever the arguments about the legality of the war in Iraq, and clearly there are serious arguments—the Secretary-General believes that it was illegal—I believe that the joint United States-United Kingdom resolution that was unanimously supported in June in the Security Council legalises the current position. In an early draft of that, it spoke of affirming the importance of the principle of the rule of law, and perhaps that statement should have remained in the final resolution. However, in the light of these debates, may we have a Government statement on what their doctrine is on pre-emptive action, either military or legal, in respect of this kind of conflict?

Mr. Hain: I know that the Foreign Secretary will pay careful attention to my hon. Friend's question. Indeed, if I am not mistaken, the Foreign Secretary made a speech on that matter relatively recently, addressing the difficulties of intervention, when it can be justified and when not. I am sure that my hon. Friend will want to read that speech and perhaps question the Foreign Secretary on it when he gets a chance.

Mr. Hugo Swire (East Devon) (Con): Following the proper request of my hon. Friend the Member for
 
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Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) for a debate on agriculture in the light of the disastrous summer and harvest, may I press the Leader of the House for an urgent debate specifically on the future of our dairy farmers, the inadequate farm-gate price of milk, and the relationship between our nation's food producers and the supermarket chains?

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