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Mr. Hain: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving me the opportunity, and I am sure the whole House, to put on record our acknowledgement that Peter Benenson, in founding Amnesty, lit a torch for freedom that has continued to burn brightly and has held every Government in the world, including our own, accountable for any potential human rights abuses.

As for Burma, I agree with the hon. Gentleman that it is an odious junta. The sooner that it can be brought down and replaced by a democratic, civilised Government, the better for the Burmese people. The treatment of the three individuals to whom the hon. Gentleman refers is completely intolerable, but unfortunately in line with the junta's behaviour. As well their treatment, we are aware of the long-standing oppression of Aung San Suu Kyi, who should in my opinion, subject to the views of the Burmese people, be the true leader of Burma.

Julie Morgan (Cardiff, North) (Lab): May I add my regret about the loss of the international women's day debate? Is my right hon. Friend aware that on Tuesday, which was 1 March, St. David's day, representatives of the British Medical Association in Wales presented a petition containing thousands of signatures to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at No. 10 Downing street, plus a bunch of daffodils, in support of a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces in Wales, and in support of my private Member's Bill on 18 March? Does my right hon. Friend agree that one of the best gifts that Wales could have on St. David's day would be smoke-free air in public spaces, especially in view of the report this week that stated that 30 people die every day from passive smoking? What efforts will the Government make to ensure that this happens?
 
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Mr. Hain: I applaud my hon. Friend for bringing forward her Bill to seek to restrict smoking in public places. It will encourage the policy that the Government have announced, and which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has promoted through the public health White Paper, of ensuring that passive smoking does not lead to the injury, ill health and death that it currently causes, and that smoking is restricted in public places. We are not able to support my hon. Friend's Bill for various reasons, but in terms of the thrust of the policy that it contains she will find that we are with her in spirit. She will also be encouraged by subsequent legislation that we intend to introduce, which will give Wales the opportunity to implement policies in the way in which the National Assembly choose.

Mr. Roy Beggs (East Antrim) (UUP): Will the Leader of the House arrange a debate as soon as possible to enable the House to end the perceived discrimination by Government against parents in Northern Ireland who wish to have their children educated in grammar schools, by enabling those parents to exercise the same rights as parents enjoy in England, who by local referendum can choose to retain their local grammar school, and also by enabling the House to prevent discrimination against the state sector—mainly Protestant children in our schools—in the form of proposals recently, which the Government admit will reduce funding to the state sector by £3 per pupil annually and increase funding to maintained sector children—who are mainly Roman Catholic—by £5 per pupil annually? Surely the Leader of the House and the House would uphold the need for abandoning and preventing discrimination at all levels.

Mr. Hain: Of course no Labour Government—certainly not this one—would want to see discrimination anywhere in Northern Ireland or, for that matter, on the British mainland. I acknowledge—I ask that the hon. Gentleman does so as well—that notwithstanding the points that he has made, which have been noted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, there is now record investment in schools in Northern Ireland and that education standards are rising. I am glad that the hon. Gentleman acknowledges that with a nod to me. The children of Northern Ireland and their parents—indeed, the whole community—are now much better off than they were under the dreadful policies of the last Conservative Government.

Mr. Patrick Hall (Bedford) (Lab): When my right hon. Friend visited Bedford recently, he saw the bust of Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, who was born in Bedford and later lived and worked in South Africa. He went on to found the anti-apartheid movement. On Monday 21 March, I will join constituents at the Trevor Huddleston sculpture to help to publicise the campaign to make poverty history—a cause of which Trevor Huddleston would certainly have approved. Will my right hon. Friend try to find time for the House to debate the aims of Make Poverty History and the crucial role that the Government are playing in it?

Mr. Hain: I would certainly like to find an opportunity to debate Make Poverty History. I am
 
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absolutely certain that, as my hon. Friend said, Archbishop Trevor Huddleston would have backed it enthusiastically. He was an inspirational figure in the freedom struggle throughout the world, particularly in South Africa, where he played a crucial role. Make Poverty History is also supported by Nelson Mandela, who has exerted major pressure on the G7 leaders, and the Chancellor and Prime Minister have played a leading role in that global campaign.

Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet) (Con): Will the Leader of the House confirm that the Government have no intention of proceeding any further with the European Union Bill, which had its Second Reading nearly a month ago? Will he also confirm whether the Government intend to have the Identity Cards Bill, currently being debated in the other place, placed on the statute book in the next five weeks?

Mr. Hain: It is our intention to have the Identity Cards Bill on the statute book as soon as we can. That will depend on the Opposition's response. It remains to be seen whether the Conservatives will back this commonsense measure, which is widely supported by about 80 per cent. of the population. That applies to the Liberal Democrats as well. Will they seek to block the Bill? It will be an interesting challenge for the Opposition, and members of the public will be watching very closely to see who is on their side in the fight against terrorism and illegal immigration and in favour of improving the security of legitimate British citizens.

On the European Union Bill, we want to proceed as soon as an opportunity arises. We want to get it through and we will proceed when we can.

Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock) (Lab): Can we have a debate on the monarchy? Under the smokescreen of a general election, Prince Charles is altering the constitution a la carte. The fact is that he is entitled to marry whomever he likes, but the custodians of the constitution are here in the House, and this matter raises questions about morganatic marriage. Stanley Baldwin said that the constitution made no provision for such marriage, so perhaps we should legislate to change that. If not, Camilla may become Queen. Questions are also raised about the male primogeniture rule, which is currently discriminatory, and the religious faith of the monarch. Those issues cannot be handled by stealth. There should be a conscious discussion in this place about all these matters. It is wrong for Prince Charles to be able to alter the constitution by this gradualist approach without consulting Parliament. These are matters for which the House has a responsibility, and whether our politics are left, right or centre we should not abdicate that responsibility.

Mr. Hain: I have to disappoint my hon. Friend, because I cannot promise him a debate. In fact, I have absolutely no intention of having a debate on this subject. As he knows, the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs made a statement in which he explained the Government's position on these matters. As to the accusation of proceeding by stealth, we need to acknowledge that this wedding, which will take place on 8 April, has a public profile. It is anything but stealth; it is in the full glare of publicity. I am sure that my hon.
 
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Friend would want to join me in wishing Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles a successful wedding and a happy marriage.

Mr. Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst) (Con): Did the Leader of the House notice in yesterday's PMPs—

Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East) (Con): PMPs?

Mr. Forth: Prime Minister's porkies.

Did the Leader of the House notice that the Prime Minister said how delighted he would be if we spent "the next few months" arguing about the national health service? Did the Leader of the House take that as a hint, or even a definitive statement, from the Prime Minister that there is no general election in the offing and that we will still be here debating these important matters? Does the right hon. Gentleman have the Prime Minister's confidence, or does he read into the Prime Minister's words, as I do, that we can all go off for our Easter break in a relaxed mood?

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