Points of Order

John Bercow Excerpts

Wednesday 20th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. You have been very generous in the amount of time that you have given today, but many Members on both sides of the House did not have copies of the Chancellor’s statement after he sat down. It seems that the Vote Office did not have sufficient papers or that the Treasury did not give it enough. Could you ensure that in future the Chancellor makes sure that the Vote Office is given ample copies of such statements so that hon. Members can scrutinise them?

[Mr Speaker]

The point is noted by the Chair and I feel sure that it will be noted by those on the Treasury Bench. We are doubly grateful to the hon. Gentleman.

[Mr David Anderson (Blaydon) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. In response to my question in Prime Minister’s questions, the Prime Minister said that I mentioned the British Chambers of Commerce, but I did not. I referred specifically to a report from the North East chamber of commerce, which said that 17,000 jobs in the construction industry were at risk. I am the first to admit that my accent is not always the easiest to understand, but I am also sure that the Prime Minister was not misleading the House. Can you advise me on how this matter can be corrected?

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Gentleman has just corrected it very successfully. I do not want to be personal, but let me say to him that I have never found the slightest difficulty in understanding what he has had to say. I hope that he is grateful for that.

[Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)]

What did you say, Mr Speaker?

[Mr Speaker]

We are always grateful for the quick-wittedness of the hon. Member for Rhondda, bestriding the Opposition Front Bench.

We come now to the ten-minute rule motion, for which the proposer has been very patiently waiting.