Points of Order

Gregory Campbell Excerpts

Monday 29th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Gentleman has corrected the record. Each Member is responsible for what he or she says by way of declaration, but in general terms—I thank the hon. Gentleman for putting the record straight and for his courtesy—it is probably better, particularly in the climate of our times, to err on the side of over-declaration rather than under-declaration. I thank him for what he has said, and the House will do so.

[Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Last Wednesday, during Prime Minister’s questions, a number of incidents, which I understand are the subject of police investigation, occurred in Central Lobby. It was drawn to my attention shortly after those incidents that in attendance of some of those events was an abstentionist Member of this House, the hon. Member for Mid Ulster (Francie Molloy). He obtains significant sums for not attending this House, but he was present in Central Lobby and has given interviews subsequent to the incidents. I seek your advice on whether that Member will be subjected to any input by the police in the course of their investigations.

[Mr Speaker]

I react with caution to the point of order from the hon. Gentleman, to whom I am grateful for giving me advance notice of his intention to raise it. Certainly, Sinn Féin Members—it is to such a Member, clearly, that he is referring—have access to Central Lobby, just as any member of the public visiting the House enjoys such access. It is, of course, incumbent on all Members—those who have sworn in and those who have not—to ensure that the visitors they accompany behave appropriately and respect the rules on access. It is also, of course—this should go without saying—incumbent on Members themselves to demonstrate such respect. I cannot go beyond that relatively general statement, as I not familiar with the detail that the hon. Gentleman might have in mind, but I hope that that is a useful rubric.

If there are no further points of order and the House’s appetite has now been satisfied, we can now move on to the presentation of Bills.