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Business of the House

I am always anxious to give the Leader of the House the benefit of the doubt, so I accept that she was acting in good faith when she told the House in July, when the ombudsman's report was published, that there would be a statement on Equitable Life in the autumn. I am less able to give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt about what he told the House during the debate on the Address:"““There will be a statement before the House rises at Christmas. I can say to the hon. Gentleman that that will be done. There will be a statement””.—[Official Report, 3 December 2008; Vol. 485, c. 38.]" That was only a week ago. What has happened in that week? Has the Prime Minister saved the world but lost his grip here?