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Business of the House

I note that you are paying careful attention, Mr. Deputy Speaker, as you always do when this matter is raised. It is obviously of great importance to Members in all parts of the House that they should be free to carry out their duties as Members of Parliament. That is a fundamental principle of this House and of this Parliament. If there are varying interpretations of the code of practice, that is not acceptable to Members. I had the privilege of visiting my hon. Friend’s constituency in a ministerial capacity, and I know what an assiduous and hard-working Member of Parliament she is. It is important for her and other right hon. and hon. Members to be able to carry out their duties in the House free of the constraints about which she has rightly complained.