Points of Order

Lord Jackson of Peterborough Excerpts

Thursday 4th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. That is not a point of order; the hon. Gentleman will resume his seat.

[Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Last go. I call Mr Stewart Jackson.

[Mr Jackson]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Do you, like me, deprecate the practice, too common among Departments under the previous Government, of referring, in written answers to parliamentary questions, to website addresses rather than giving substantive answers? Will you intercede?

[Mr Speaker]

I am happy to comment on that point of order. The hon. Gentleman draws the attention of the House to what is becoming a common practice. Responses from Ministers to questions should be as helpful and clear as possible. Simply referring an hon. Member to a website is, frankly, not good enough. [Interruption.]

We come now to the main business. To move the motion, I call the Secretary of State, Dr Liam Fox.