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Mr. Andrew Mackay (Bracknell) (Con): Although the House will be grateful to the Secretary of State for Defence for the fact that he will come to make a statement if a large number of extra troops are to be deployed in Afghanistan, is it not absolutely essential to hold a full debate, as in the Dutch Parliament, because the situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating, confusing and dangerous? I hope that the Leader of the House, as an ex-Secretary of State for Defence, would agree that such a debate was essential.

Mr. Hoon: I have made it clear already that the Government, as always, attach enormous importance to informing the House about the deployment of British forces. There will be plenty of opportunities in the weeks ahead for the right hon. Gentleman to raise those issues, not least because Defence questions will take place on Monday. I have announced a debate entitled "Defence Procurement", but it has always been the tradition of the House that those debates can allow an extended discussion of all matters that affect defence. Furthermore, I have indicated that, at an early opportunity, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will come to the House to set out the position in relation specifically to Afghanistan. There will be significant opportunities for right hon. and hon. Members to consider those issues.

Dr. Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East) (Lab): Prostitution is a serious issue that affects many constituencies, so I was disappointed last Tuesday that
 
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the Government decided to release their future strategy by written statement, without right hon. and hon. Members being given a chance to question Ministers. What opportunities will there be in future to debate that important subject?

Mr. Hoon: I am sure that this issue will be brought to the Floor of the House by right hon. and hon. Members during questions. Indeed, there will be opportunities on the Adjournment to discuss these issues, and I certainly urge my hon. Friend to consider using Westminster Hall for that important debate.

Mr. Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Will the Leader of the House draw to the Home Secretary's attention the interesting proposal from Brian Moore, deputy chief constable of Surrey police, to place a new specific statutory duty on public authorities to require them to disclose the incidents of violence that come to their attention that are committed by readily identifiable individuals?

Mr. Hoon: I certainly believe that such an initiative would be wholly consistent with the Government's efforts to ensure an emphasis not only on citizens' rights, but on their responsibilities. If we are to tackle not only more serious crimes but the kind of antisocial behaviour that affects far too many of our constituencies throughout the country, it is important that all citizens participate in ensuring that those responsible both for antisocial behaviour and for crime are brought to justice.

Ms Celia Barlow (Hove) (Lab): Will my right hon. Friend consider finding time to debate the carrying of bicycles on trains? My local rail operator—Southern—has just implemented a ban on doing so during peak travel times, which is particularly ironic given that Brighton and Hove has just been awarded £1.5 million of Government money as a Cycling England town.

Mr. Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport is well known for his enthusiasm for bicycles. I will ensure that the important matter is drawn to his attention.

Mr. Peter Robinson (Belfast, East) (DUP): Will the Leader of the House set aside time for a statement or debate on paramilitary involvement in criminality in Northern Ireland so that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland can explain the confusion between the position of his security Minister, the Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the hon. Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Woodward), who says that the IRA is no longer involved in criminality, and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, who indicates that it is still involved?

Mr. Hoon: I assure the hon. Gentleman and the House that there is no confusion between the two positions. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary was referring to the huge and significant change in the position of the IRA as an organisation. Obviously, it is rightly the responsibility of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which does a superb job on behalf of
 
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the community, to ensure that any individuals involved in any kind of criminality are subject to investigation and brought to justice.

Mr. Fraser Kemp (Houghton and Washington, East) (Lab): Will the Leader of the House consider early-day motion 1418, which was tabled in my name?

[That this House recognises that carbon monoxide is still a major killer in the United Kingdom, claiming more than 30 lives each year and that more than 50 per cent. of the general public are unaware of this fact; congratulates Hugh and Margaret Brennan, who lost their daughter Anne aged just 19 in 1995 to this silent killer which cut short her life when she was only in the second year of her English degree at Durham University, for their campaigning to end this continuing tragedy; and calls upon the Government further to examine the laws on landlords' responsibility for carbon monoxide poisoning and to renew efforts to warn the general public about such dangers.]

The early-day motion endorses a call of two of my constituents, Hugh and Margaret Brennan, who tragically lost their daughter Anne to carbon monoxide poisoning 11 years ago. They welcome many improvements that have been made, but call for a wider public awareness campaign to try to stop the needless deaths of 30 people a year in Britain due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Will the Leader of the House join me and them in endorsing the call for people to be made aware of the silent killer that is out there?

Mr. Hoon: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising something that is important because sadly people still lose their lives in such circumstances. He rightly acknowledged that significant improvements to safety measures to prevent such terrible tragedies have been made over the years, but I recognise that more must be done. I assure him that I will draw that to the attention of the Secretary of State.

Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): Will the Leader of the House confirm that following the energy review, a Bill will be brought before Parliament so that all hon. Members can discuss and vote on the conclusions of the review?

Mr. Hoon: The review is important. I am sure that hon. Members will want to discuss it and they will have the opportunity to do so in due course. As I am sure that the hon. Gentleman realises, a review is not the same as a specific proposal for taking immediate action. I am confident that there will be a number of options and that the Government will have to consider the best way forward on several matters. I look forward to his contribution to the debate.

Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab): May I draw my right hon. Friend's attention to an early-day motion that I am about to put down on the news today that the Department for Work and Pensions is to withdraw a £1 billion contract for the Post Office card account? Many hon. Members raised concerns on the Floor of the House during the reinvention programme for sub-post offices. The change is coming too soon on the back of the previous changes to the sub-post office network. The Department for Work and Pensions says that only one
 
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in four people uses the accounts, but I would say that as many as one in four uses them, and the number will be significantly higher in the poorest communities. The issue belongs on the Floor of the House, so I hope that the Leader of the House will take note of my early-day motion when I table it.

Mr. Hoon: As I have indicated to the House before, I am always impressed by my range of responsibilities. I now discover that I am responsible for early-day motions that are still to be tabled. My hon. Friend raised this important issue with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry earlier at Question Time and I shall certainly ensure that it is also drawn to the attention of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Mr. Bernard Jenkin (North Essex) (Con): May we have a debate on sentencing in child sex abuse cases? Phoenix Survivors, a national support group based in North Essex that has been set up for and by the victims of child sex abuse, has drawn my attention to the sentences handed down in the so-called baby rape case last week of two and a half years and six years, compared with a mandatory life sentence. It is left to the Attorney-General to appeal to the High Court so that more realistic sentences can be applied. I do not blame the judges, but the situation suggests that the law is somehow deficient, so we should discuss the matter.

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