---

Business of the House

The whole House will wish to welcome the release of Norman Kember and the other hostages this morning. Next Monday will be the third anniversary of the start of the Iraq conflict, so perhaps this is a good opportunity for me to ask the Leader of the House again whether it is time for a debate on the political situation there. We simply never discuss the matter, which seems entirely wrong. May we also have a debate on ministerial announcements to the House? It has long been a tradition that the Speaker has deprecated the release of material to the press before the House has been properly informed, yet Ministers carry on doing it. The most important information is that contained in the Budget, yet yesterday’s Evening Standard, which was published on the morning of the statement, carried headlines about the additional cash to schools. It also said:"““Speaking exclusively to the Evening Standard before briefing the Cabinet this morning””," before going on to quote the Chancellor of the Exchequer. There was a time when that would have been a sacking offence, and we should have a debate on the matter. The right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) has already mentioned the dropping of the Mental Health Bill. Many organisations are worried that the most objectionable aspects of that Bill will now be introduced as tack-ons to other legislation. May we have a clear statement of the Government’s intentions for legislation in that area? Lastly, may we have a debate on Cabinet vacancies? The right hon. Member for Maidenhead mentioned that we had now waited four months for an appointment to the splendid office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster—although I understand that the Chancellor of the Exchequer expressed an interest in the job yesterday. We have also waited a month since the Prime Minister announced with some fanfare that he was going to create a Secretary of State for social exclusion, and would have an imminent reshuffle to bring that new post about. As the Prime Minister is increasingly being shunned by those on the rich list, that could be the perfect retirement job for him—but I think that we should have a debate on the matter.