I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his point of order. He asks what is the status of such an arrangement. The short answer is that it is a convention;

it is not a requirement of parliamentary procedure or of our Standing Orders. That said, I think it is...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his point of order. He asks what is the status of such an arrangement. The short answer is that it is a convention;

it is not a requirement of parliamentary procedure or of our Standing Orders. That said, I think it is...

I am happy to confirm that that is the established convention. Moreover, the convention applies across the piece; that is to say, when any Member visits another Member’s constituency on parliamentary or official business, prior and timely notification is required, so the convention does not apply only to Ministers or...

I am happy to confirm that that is the established convention. Moreover, the convention applies across the piece; that is to say, when any Member visits another Member’s constituency on parliamentary or official business, prior and timely notification is required, so the convention does not apply only to Ministers or...

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his point of order. As he knows, I attach great importance, as have all previous Speakers, to the timely announcement of Government policies in the House first and not to the media. I made a judgment that this matter warranted the...

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his point of order. As he knows, I attach great importance, as have all previous Speakers, to the timely announcement of Government policies in the House first and not to the media. I made a judgment that this matter warranted the...

The hon. Gentleman has just highlighted an unwelcome imposition from the centre, and it would be fair to say that he—and there are such people in all parties in the House—subscribes to the doctrine of localism. May I, however, in all honesty, put it to him and to the Secretary...

The hon. Gentleman has just highlighted an unwelcome imposition from the centre, and it would be fair to say that he—and there are such people in all parties in the House—subscribes to the doctrine of localism. May I, however, in all honesty, put it to him and to the Secretary...

Given that the advances in medical science mean that whenever one devises a new cure, one effectively creates a new queue, does my right hon. Friend agree that uppermost in ministerial minds at all times should be the priority of increasing productivity in the NHS?

Given that the advances in medical science mean that whenever one devises a new cure, one effectively creates a new queue, does my right hon. Friend agree that uppermost in ministerial minds at all times should be the priority of increasing productivity in the NHS?

I am extremely grateful to the right hon. Lady for giving way. In September 2006, in response to protests, the Secretary of State rightly instructed that the consultation process on the future of the Nuffield speech and language unit should be undertaken again. Given that eight months later—on 16 May,...

I am extremely grateful to the right hon. Lady for giving way. In September 2006, in response to protests, the Secretary of State rightly instructed that the consultation process on the future of the Nuffield speech and language unit should be undertaken again. Given that eight months later—on 16 May,...

The explanatory notes refer to the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, but as far as I can tell, the Bill is silent on that point. Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House when the regulations flowing from the Equality Act 2006 will take effect in Ulster?

The explanatory notes refer to the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, but as far as I can tell, the Bill is silent on that point. Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House when the regulations flowing from the Equality Act 2006 will take effect in Ulster?

To ask the Leader of the House if he will ask the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons to consider the merits of imposing a time limit on ministerial speeches.

To ask the Leader of the House if he will ask the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons to consider the merits of imposing a time limit on ministerial speeches.

The hon. Gentleman has certainly offered us an impressive chronology of the events, but I put it to the hon. Gentleman, whom I hold in very high esteem, that he has deployed the tried and tested technique of invoking a worst-case scenario in support of his thesis. Every single week...

The hon. Gentleman has certainly offered us an impressive chronology of the events, but I put it to the hon. Gentleman, whom I hold in very high esteem, that he has deployed the tried and tested technique of invoking a worst-case scenario in support of his thesis. Every single week...

By way of underlining the case that my hon. Friend makes, does he recall Second Reading on 9 January and the part of that debate in which the Secretary of State told me that he was preserving his power to intervene in certain cases precisely to protect Parliament? May I...

By way of underlining the case that my hon. Friend makes, does he recall Second Reading on 9 January and the part of that debate in which the Secretary of State told me that he was preserving his power to intervene in certain cases precisely to protect Parliament? May I...

I appreciate that the Secretary of State is in a difficult position and that he is probably trying to tough it out. However, will he tell us whether, in reflecting on the behaviour and language of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s special adviser, he believes that it was seemly, measured,...

I appreciate that the Secretary of State is in a difficult position and that he is probably trying to tough it out. However, will he tell us whether, in reflecting on the behaviour and language of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s special adviser, he believes that it was seemly, measured,...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost refurbishing each ministerial private office was in the last two years. - Inc figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost refurbishing each ministerial private office was in the last two years. - Inc figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years. - Inc ref to 10 January 2005, 429, c85-6W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years. - Inc ref to 10 January 2005, 429, c85-6W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost of refurbishing each ministerial private office was in the last two years. - Inc figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost of refurbishing each ministerial private office was in the last two years. - Inc figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years. - Inc figures and ref to 10 January 2005, 429 c85-6W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years. - Inc figures and ref to 10 January 2005, 429 c85-6W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years. - Inc table and ref to 10 January 2005, 429 c85-6W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last two years. - Inc table and ref to 10 January 2005, 429 c85-6W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in each of the last two years. - Inc ref to 10 January 2005, 429 c85-6W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in each of the last two years. - Inc ref to 10 January 2005, 429 c85-6W.