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Proceeding contribution from Tom Harris (Labour) in the House of Commons on Monday, 8 December 2008. It occurred during Debate on Speaker's Committee on the Search of Offices on the Parliamentary Estate.


Speaker's Committee on the Search of Offices on the Parliamentary Estate

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Today I returned to my office in the House of Commons, on the Upper Committee corridor, after an absence of some days. I found a letter sitting on my computer keyboard, in my office that had been locked. It is from the hon. Member for South Norfolk (Mr. Bacon), it is politically partial, it parrots the Conservative line on the matters before the House today and it contains implicit criticism of Ministers, the House authorities, the police and yourself, Mr. Speaker. Given the subject of today's debate, I hope that the House will understand that I have some concerns about returning to my office, and opening the door with my key to find such a letter sitting on my computer keyboard. I do not wish to accuse anyone. I would not want to end up with egg on my face—or indeed, bacon—but I would like to ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether it was a House official or a Conservative party researcher who left the letter on my computer, or whether it was something far more innocent. Given the debate, I have every reason to ask how it got into my office.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
485 c269 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Related items
Subjects
House of Commons Powers of entry Police Powers Members Metropolitan Police Parliamentary privilege Offices Right of search Speaker Speaker's Committee on the Search of Offices on the Parliamentary Estate Department of Chamber and Committee Services Serjeant at Arms Directorate Green, Damian
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk