John Bercow: Order. It would be helpful if Members had the courtesy not to yell “Well done” when a point of order is being raised. People cannot complain about other people’s parliamentary manners on the one hand and then display a deficit on their own part on the other. Let us have a bit of order.
John Bercow: Order. I appeal to the House to calm down. I politely but explicitly suggest to the Secretary of State that in addressing these matters, he seeks to address the questions put to him and to address the matters for which he is responsible, which obviously does not include the conduct of other political parties.
John Bercow: The Secretary of State was referring to the right hon. Member for Twickenham. We do not name people in this place.
John Bercow: Order. Far too many noisy private conversations are taking place. Let us have a bit of hush for Mr Robert Halfon.
John Bercow: Order. Let us hear what the Prime Minister has to say on the economy, and on anything else.
John Bercow: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his point of order and for his advance notice of his intention to raise it. The answer is that permission to intervene in an Adjournment debate is not required from the Minister, the Member whose debate it is or the Chair. Permission is required if a Member is seeking to make a speech in the debate. I am constantly struck by how little understood that...
John Bercow: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her point of order. The time available for this debate was always to be a function of the amount of time taken by earlier proceedings, and therefore what was left at the end. However, as the scheduling of business is a matter for the Government and as the Minister leading the debate is here, and no less a figure than the Deputy Leader of the House is in his...
John Bercow: With this it will be convenient to consider the Government motion to disagree with Lords amendments 2B and 196B, the Government motion to insist on its disagreement with Lords amendment 31, and Government amendment (a) in lieu.
John Bercow: I will take a very brief further point from the right hon. Member for Exeter (Mr Bradshaw), a former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and then respond to the point of order.
John Bercow: I must draw the attention of the House to the fact that financial privilege is involved in Lords amendment 1B. If the House agrees to the amendment, I shall ensure that the appropriate entry is made in the Journal.
John Bercow: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her point of order and for giving me advance notice of her intention to raise it. Ordinarily, I would say to the hon. Lady or to any other Member who was dissatisfied with an answer that they should consider taking the matter up with the Procedure Committee, which monitors such matters. In general terms, I stand by that advice. When the objection of the hon....
John Bercow: Order. I am keen to accommodate the interest of colleagues, but doing so requires brevity, both in questions and in answers.
John Bercow: I do not, but the Minister might.
John Bercow: Order. Let me say once and for all to the junior Whip, sitting next to a senior Whip: be quiet, do not heckle, and if you cannot keep quiet, leave the Chamber. Make a habit of that.
John Bercow: Order. May I appeal to Members who are planning to leave the Chamber to do so quickly and quietly, so that the House can do the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) the courtesy of listening to his point of order?
John Bercow: I am sure the shadow Chancellor is bringing himself to his last sentence.
John Bercow: Mr Simon Hughes? Not here. Jo Swinson? Not here. The Department kindly informed me of the intended grouping at approximately 9.10 this morning. I hope, and say with some confidence that I trust, that it also informed the hon. Members in question. Neither of them is present, however, so I call Mr Julian Brazier.
John Bercow: There is scope for a written ministerial statement, I would have thought.
John Bercow: Well, that exchange was worth waiting for, I am sure the House will agree. I thank both Members. Topical Questions
John Bercow: Order. The right hon. Lady has a right to be heard. Has she concluded her remarks, or does she wish to continue?