Point of Order

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 1:55 pm on 7 May 2009.

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Photo of Christopher Chope Christopher Chope Conservative, Christchurch 1:55, 7 May 2009

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. For the umpteenth time today, we have seen contempt shown for Mr. Speaker and the occupants the Chair by the Government, who have defied Mr. Speaker's repeated requests that statements should be made to this House first, before they are made to the world outside. The SATs statement was rehearsed on the radio this morning and the written statement to the House on DNA was all over the newspapers and in the media late last night. What is the point, Mr. Deputy Speaker, of Mr. Speaker making rulings unless they can be enforced?

May I make a modest suggestion to Mr. Speaker: if, in future, there are Ministers—I am pleased to see the Home Secretary in her place on the Front Bench—who defy Mr. Speaker's rulings, they should be arrested and have their DNA taken from them, and that that DNA sample should be destroyed only when we have received a proper undertaking and public apology from the Minister responsible?