Sir Lindsay Hoyle

I have received a letter from the hon. Member for North Dorset (Simon Hoare) asking for permission for an issue to be given precedence as a matter of privilege. It concerns a legal case that could potentially have the effect of preventing the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration—also known as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman—from laying a report before Parliament under section 10(3) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967. Standing Order No. 146 gives the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee the task of examining such reports. The free flow of information to Parliament is essential to its work and, in the past, attempts to prevent communication to the House or its Committees have been treated as contempts. Accordingly, I have decided that this is indeed a matter for which I should allow the precedence accorded to issues of privilege. The hon. Member can therefore table a motion to be debated on Thursday. The motion will be taken after any urgent questions or statements and before Government business. It will be available to Members once it has been tabled, which I expect will be before the rise of the House today.