Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 19th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

I call Charlotte Leslie.

[Charlotte Leslie (Bristol North West) (Con)]

I think I actually had Question 9, so my apologies for standing up inadvertently.

[Mr Speaker]

No, it was not that the hon. Lady was standing up inadvertently. It is that I am calling her to stand up advertently, on the basis that I alternate between the two sides of the House. Her opportunity is now and the nation wishes to hear her.

[Charlotte Leslie]

T9. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. In the midst of difficult, apprehensive and gloomy times in the eurozone, what measures are the Government taking to ensure that we are engaging as proactively as possible with exciting emerging markets in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Mozambique?

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am keen to accommodate colleagues. The evidence so far is that we have time for the questions but not always for the answers. We need short questions and short answers.

[Mrs Linda Riordan (Halifax) (Lab/Co-op)]

T5. Is the Minister aware that following the blockade of Gaza, the Gazans suffer an acute shortage of drinking water, with 90% of the water being contaminated and 90 million litres of untreated or partially treated sewage being dumped in the sea every day? Will he now tell the Israelis that this is a cruel and illegal way to treat Gazans?

--- Later in debate ---

[Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Gentleman is a very experienced denizen of the House. He will know that points of order follow statements, and the hon. Gentleman’s point of order is one that we await with eager anticipation.