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Points of Order

Volume 471: debated on Monday 4 February 2008

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Have you received a request from the Leader of the Opposition to clarify his remarks during Prime Minister’s questions last week, when he alleged that the previous Conservative Government had kept an individual—Mr. al-Qaradawi—out of the country, when in fact we know that he had been let in about half a dozen times? Have you received such a request, and if so, would you—

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will be aware that on Thursday last week, during business questions, the right hon. Member for North-West Hampshire (Sir George Young), following a Liaison Committee meeting, mentioned the change that was proposed at extraordinarily short notice to the way in which this House scrutinises European legislation. You will also be aware that we are frequently criticised for the superficiality of the role that we play in scrutinising European legislation. I am therefore somewhat surprised to discover on the Order Paper for today not only that a timetable has been attached to that business, but that, despite the mollifying words of the Leader of the House on Thursday, it would appear that we are going ahead with no consultation with either the Liaison Committee or the Committee concerned.

The fact of the matter is that the hon. Lady can oppose the motion. If it is taken after 10 o’clock, it will be nod or nothing, but before 10 o’clock the hon. Lady could speak to it.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Immediately after a statement, it is very useful for hon. Members to be given a copy of what the Minister has said. Unfortunately, the copy that I received today had the last part of the statement missing. Can that be looked into?