Business without Debate

Steve Darling Excerpts

Tuesday 20th October 2026 Commons Chamber

That, at the sitting on Wednesday 21 October, business in the name of the leader of the Liberal Democrats shall be treated as being taken on an allotted half day provided under paragraph (2)(b) of Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business) and, notwithstanding paragraph (2)(c) of that Standing Order, may be entered upon at any hour and may be proceeded with, though opposed, for three hours; proceedings shall then lapse if not previously disposed of; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Sarah Coombes.)

[Steve Darling (Torbay) (LD)]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Earlier today at oral questions, the Minister for Secondary Care, the hon. Member for Bristol South (Karin Smyth), gave the impression that I had already had a discussion with her in respect of a fire notice and a Care Quality Commission notice, when in fact those notices had not been issued at the time I met her on 9 September. I am concerned that the Minister could have inadvertently misled the Chamber. I would welcome some guidance from you, Madam Deputy Speaker, on this matter.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Caroline Nokes)]

I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving notice of his point of order. He will know that the Chair is not responsible for Ministers’ remarks in the Chamber, but I am sure that Members on the Treasury Bench will have heard his comments and that if a correction is needed, one will be made.

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