Israel and Gaza

Baroness Laing of Elderslie Excerpts

Monday 16th October 2023 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I can assure the hon. Lady that we are working very hard with partners across the region to bring humanitarian aid to the people who need it as soon as practically possible.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)]

Order. I know that a lot of people are disappointed that they have not been able to ask their particular question, but the House is grateful to the Prime Minister for having been at the Dispatch Box for two hours. I must point out in advance to all those colleagues who will come and complain to me about not being able to speak that the House has been asking the Prime Minister to use his diplomatic skills to the best of his ability on behalf of our country, so I think we must release him from the Chamber to allow him to do so. Thank you, Prime Minister.

[Hannah Bardell (Livingston) (SNP)]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Points of order come after statements. Is this directly related to the statement?

[Hannah Bardell]

indicated assent.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Then I hope it really is a point of order.

[Hannah Bardell]

Madam Deputy Speaker, I thank you for granting this point of order. I appreciate that the Prime Minister was at the Dispatch Box for nearly two hours, but as a result of the importance and the magnitude of this issue and the complexity and nature of our questions, nearly 50 Members did not get a chance to speak. Will you, Madam Deputy Speaker, do everything that you can to ensure that time will be afforded to us during the rest of this week and going forward so that we can debate and discuss this very important issue?

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

The hon. Lady makes a perfectly reasonable point. The Leader of the House is in her place and will have heard what she has said.

[The Leader of the House of Commons (Penny Mordaunt)]

Further to that point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I know that the Foreign Secretary and his colleagues are making themselves available to speak to colleagues, because we are very aware that they will have constituency issues to discuss.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I am very grateful to the Leader of the House for giving that immediate answer. I hope the hon. Lady and the rest of the House will appreciate that Ministers are doing their best to make themselves available, especially where there are particular issues relating to constituents.

I hope the House will settle down, as we move on to the next item of business. Will those who are leaving do so quietly and swiftly?