Katie Lam (Weald of Kent) (Con)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I understand that the Home Office is due tonight to announce 12 new asylum seeker centres across the country, with no statement to the House or notification to Members here. This is a very, very important issue for our constituents. I seek your guidance on how we might encourage the Government to release this sort of information here first, so that we can scrutinise it on behalf of the people we represent.
Mr Speaker
If that is the case, it is once again totally unacceptable. This Government do not seem to understand that MPs on both sides of the House should hear any news first, as it is their constituents who are affected. If it is true that it is to be announced through a written ministerial statement on Monday, that is doubly unacceptable. I say to the Minister who is going to release this information that we have between now and the end of the sitting, and I am more than willing to allow them to come to this House and inform Members whose constituents will be affected. This is unfair. It is unacceptable. When will the Government get the message? There is going to be a change of Government; well, I hope the people who take over will have learned.
Sir Alec Shelbrooke (Wetherby and Easingwold) (Con)
Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker
I do not want to continue the debate, but I will hear it.
Sir Alec Shelbrooke
I merely confirm that I have been made aware of the same information that my hon. Friend the Member for Weald of Kent (Katie Lam) has just put forward to you.
Mr Speaker
I presume your point of order is the same, that you have heard the same message.
Mark Pritchard
Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. It is a variant of it. I thank you for speaking up on behalf of all Members from across the House. At Deputy Prime Minister’s questions last week, I raised the point that an asylum centre had been put in my constituency with just hours’ notice, and yet Shropshire council, the unitary authority, had been given at least five days’ notice, or even weeks.
Mr Speaker
Well, at least you will not be asking a question in Business questions now you have asked that. I want to put it on the record that this situation is not acceptable. We need to ensure that MPs on all sides hear things first because I do not know whose constituencies will be affected. Do it correctly, learn, and speak to the Leader of the House—I am sure that he can make arrangements.