Jonathan Ashworth
Main Page: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Mr Speaker
I am sure that the House is extremely grateful to the hon. Lady. What she said is now on the record.
Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South) (Lab)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. In response to a written question from my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis) on the burial of what we hope turns out to be Richard III, the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, the hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Mrs Grant), wrote on Friday that
“the current plan is for them to be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral.”—[Official Report, 25 October 2012; Vol. 551, c. 997W.]
That answer was welcomed and seen as very exciting in the city of Leicester. Last night, however, the Department appeared to backtrack. When asked, it refused to repeat her words and simply said:
“We will await the results before any burial arrangements are made.”
No one would want to accuse the Government of now U-turning on Richard III. Will you advise us, Mr Speaker, on whether the Under-Secretary has given notice of her intention to come to the House to clear up the confusion?
Mr Speaker
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his point of order. In response, I make two points.