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John Cryer (Hornchurch) (Lab): My right hon. Friend will be aware of a bunch of fundamentalist thugs called Christian Voice, who have recently strong-armed a cancer charity into refusing a donation from the production "Jerry Springer—The Opera". I do not care how good or bad the production is, but it should concern us all that a cancer charity of all things can be intimidated into that position by such a dodgy outfit. Can we have a debate on the matter?
Mr. Hain: I hope that my hon. Friend manages to secure a debate on that matter. I cannot promise him one, for the reasons that I have already explained. The instance to which he refers is troubling and the behaviour of those involved is unacceptable. My hon. Friend described them correctly.
Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside) (Lab): Following the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (John Cryer), will my right hon. Friend allow time for an early debate on the work of cancer charities? We must not lose sight of their tremendous work and the support that they provide to sufferers and their families. Does he agree that a good way of showing support for Marie Curie Cancer Care would be to buy a Marie Curie daffodil for St. David's day?
Mr. Hain: Yes, I do. That sounds like an instruction to me to go out and buy one, which I shall do immediately. I am glad that my hon. Friend has raised that important issue. The work of cancer charity organisations in all our constituencies is important, and they deserve the support of us all.
Mr. Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab):
In responding to the hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Shepherd), my right hon. Friend read out a list of measures that are currently going through the parliamentary process, but he did not list the Road Safety Bill. Will he assure me that time will be found to
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complete the passage of that measure? It is about saving lives, and I hope that we will get cross-party consensus on it if there is an early general election.
Mr. Hain: I very much hope so, too, and I applaud my hon. Friend for his work as patron of RoadPeace and his other work to tackle road safety problems. This is an important Bill, as are a lot of others such as the Consumer Credit Bill and the Identity Cards Bill. We hope that, in the normal fashion, the Opposition will behave in a constructive way so that the interests of our constituents can be put above party interests and Parliament can discharge its duty to road safety victims or, in this instance, potential future victims.
Mr. David Chaytor (Bury, North) (Lab): The Government will be considering their negotiating strategy on the forthcoming nuclear non-proliferation treaty review conference. My right hon. Friend will remember the important role that he played in the previous NPT review conference five years ago. In view of the escalating concerns about proliferation, not only in North Korea and Iran but in many other countries, both members of the NPT and those outside the NPT, could he find time for a debate on this crucial conference that will be held within the next few weeks?
Mr. Hain: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for reminding the House of the role that I played in the 2000 conference in New York. For the first time, we managed to get an agreement between the permanent five nuclear states and the new agenda coalition of countries, which gave the NPT new force, a new vision and a new objective. It remains the cornerstone of our international policy, and I hope that we will manage to get a similar agreement between the different countries involved, both nuclear and non-nuclear, to take forward a common agenda, especially on the frightening degree of nuclear proliferation that is happening now across the world.
Mr. Mark Hendrick (Preston) (Lab/Co-op): I have in my possession a copy of a letter from the Muslim Council of Britain's secretary-general, Mr. Iqbal Sacranie, to the leader of the Liberal Democrats, the right hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Inverness, West (Mr. Kennedy), expressing the concern of British Muslims at the Liberal Democrats' opposition to the Government's amendment to the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill relating to religious hatred. If this Bill does not receive Royal Assent because of the opposition of the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, will the next Government reintroduce it as quickly as possible?
Mr. Hain:
If, as I hope, the next Government are a Labour Government, we will certainly do so. It is important, however, that the whole Muslim community right across Britain understands that the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives are seeking to sabotage this important protection against incitement to religious hatred, which gives the Muslim community protection that it does not enjoy and that it desperately wants. Therefore, Labour is acting in the interest of Muslims, as we have done for generations and always will do.
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Points of Order
1.22 pm
Mr. Oliver Heald (North-East Hertfordshire) (Con): On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. During business questions, the Leader of the House indicated that a significant Government amendment to the Prevention of Terrorism Bill, which we will consider on Monday, was likely or possible. He also made a remark or two about the question of manuscript amendments, which I had raised with him. Would it be possible for you or Mr. Speaker to explain what the arrangements for manuscript amendments are likely to be on Monday, as it is obviously a matter of great importance, with so much changing at a late stage? Can it also be confirmed that the time when a general election is called is entirely a matter for the Prime Minister, and if he calls one four months into the parliamentary Session, it is hardly surprising if he does not get a full year's business in?
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Alan Haselhurst): First, on the question of amendments to the Bill, there are still two sitting days in which amendments can be tabled. I understand that more than 100 amendments have currently been tabled, and a preliminary selection will take place during tomorrow, the next sitting day. There is still an opportunity to table further amendments, however. Clearly, once that selection has taken place in light of all those amendments that have been put before me, the question of manuscript amendments will be given the usual careful consideration. There is still plenty of opportunity to avoid last-minute measures, however.
Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con):
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. You will have noted the points that I made in business questions to the Leader of the
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House regarding the legal advice of the Attorney-General in respect of the war and the question that I raised with the Prime Minister on 11 March 2003. I have considerable concern about the answer that I received from the Solicitor-General, in which she said:
"The Attorney-General has given a written answer to a question from Baroness Ramsey in the House of Lords today"—[Official Report, 17 March 2003; Vol. 401, c. 515W]
It then sets out the truncated advice.
It is clear that uncertainty exists in respect of the advice that the Attorney-General gave to the Butler inquiry, when he said:
The question therefore needs to be resolved, perhaps through a statement or some investigation by Mr. Speaker—with whom I raised the matter on 14 March 2003, I think—with regard to the confidentiality of the advice. Can you give me some guidance as to how we can get to the bottom of what exactly was meant by those words in the Butler inquiry, bearing in mind that the Butler inquiry was apparently prepared to abandon its proceedings altogether because it was getting unsatisfactory answers to questions relating to the advice on the war?
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
The one person who is least qualified to achieve the end that the hon. Gentleman seeks is the Speaker or the occupant of the Chair. Clearly, scope exists for the hon. Gentleman to pursue this matter in other ways. If I may say so, he has taken two opportunities to do so today, and I have no doubt that he is resourceful enough to find other ways. It really cannot be resolved on a point of order for the Chair, however.
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Electoral Registration (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords] (Allocation of Time)
1.26 pm
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. John Spellar): I beg to move,
That the following provisions shall apply to proceedings on the Electoral Registration (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]—
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