Points of Order

John Bercow Excerpts

Monday 20th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Foreign Secretary made a statement to the House last Monday on chemical weapons from Syria. It now transpires that they are to be destroyed at the plant in Ellesmere Port in my constituency and that the Government and the company involved knew at the time. That has understandably raised a number of legitimate concerns and questions that need to be answered. Has the Foreign and Commonwealth Office approached you, Mr Speaker, to add to what was said last week?

[Mr Speaker]

The short answer is no, I have not been approached by a Minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Gentleman is an assiduous parliamentarian of more than 20 years’ standing and I feel confident that he will be well aware of the parliamentary timetable for the week, which includes questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs tomorrow. I confidently predict that he will be in his seat and that he will leap up from it in a bid to catch my eye.

[Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for the Republic of Ireland, Mr Eamon Gilmore, made a statement at the weekend that he intends to get involved in the internal affairs of Northern Ireland with regard to protests, flags and parades. Have you, Mr Speaker, learned from the Northern Ireland Secretary whether she intends to make a statement about that intrusive intervention by the Foreign Minister for the Republic of Ireland?

[Mr Speaker]

I have heard no such thing thus far, but the hon. Gentleman has put his concern on the record and it will have been heard by those on the Treasury Bench. I feel sure that news of his concern will wing its way to the Secretary of State in a matter of moments.