Points of Order

Chris Williamson Excerpts

Thursday 17th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

The tabling of questions is not one of the responsibilities of the Chair, but I am sure that all Members heard the hon. Gentleman’s observations. Seeing as he has a proposal for dealing with the point, I suggest that he ask the Procedure Committee to consider whether the issue is within its remit. It is certainly not within mine as a Deputy Speaker.

[Chris Williamson]

(Derby North): On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. In response to a question about atomic veterans from my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Nic Dakin) at the most recent Defence questions, the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), inadvertently misled the House when he said that

“the courts have found that there is no causal link whatever between many of the disabilities and illnesses suffered and exposure to any radiation.”—[Official Report, 31 January 2011; Vol. 522, c. 573.]

The truth is that the courts have made no such finding, and all attempts to get the Minister to correct the record have so far proved unsuccessful. Could I therefore ask you, Madam Deputy Speaker, to remind Ministers of the importance of correcting the record when they get their facts wrong?

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I hope that no Member needs to be urged by the Chair to correct the record if they felt that something they had said in the Chamber was not correct. I feel that the hon. Gentleman is trying to open up the debate again, but, if he wants to pursue the issue, I would give him the same advice as I gave a few moments ago: he should pursue with the Table Office the question of how to ensure that it is clarified. All Members—Ministers and Back Benchers—are responsible for what they say, however, not the Chair.