Sir Lindsay Hoyle

Before we come to the statement on Jackdaw, I have to say to the Minister that I am sorry that I have to address you on this matter rather than the Secretary of State. It is shameful that this announcement was not made to the House first, and it is an immense discourtesy to the House that the Secretary of State is not here to make the statement. I am sorry that Sky News is more important than Members on both sides. This treatment is appalling. The Minister will know that this issue has been of great interest to the House, as is evident from the many questions asked by hon. Members from all parts of the House, which have been asked and answered over recent months despite the concerns about a quasi-judicial process—so let me not hear that as an excuse. It is simply not good enough that the announcement was trailed in the press last night and announced all over the media this morning by the Secretary of State before it could be properly scrutinised in this House. It is not the first time that this has happened on this subject, and that is what makes it more shameful. If this was a leak, I am sure there will be a leak inquiry, or is it that the Department is deliberately briefing out to the media? The Guardian and the BBC were covering it last night, and it was on the radio. It seems that Ministers once again need reminding of the Government’s own ministerial code, which makes it clear that important policy announcements should be made first to this House, especially when we are sitting. There is no excuse. I hope the Minister is taking this on board. I am sorry that he is having to take the flak for a Secretary of State who does not care about Members on this side or that side of the House—wherever. In the end, we are elected by our electorate to hear statements here, not via the media. Am I getting the message through, Minister? We have had this conversation once before. I am sorry that you are being set up as the patsy who has to deal with this ridiculous situation. I want us to learn. I was hoping that we had changed what happened previously. I thought this was a new beginning—well, today is certainly a bad one, isn’t it?