Speeches by Gale.

“Order. No.”

“I call the shadow Minister.”

“Before I call the Secretary of State to make his statement, I place on the record the fact that Mr Speaker and the Deputy Speakers were disappointed to see extensive coverage in the media this morning of Ministers’ responses to the Independent Water Commission, before the House has had the opportunity to consider the m…”

“Order. It is apparent that a very considerable number of Back-Bench Members wish to participate in this statement. There are two further statements to follow before we come to the main business of the day, which is also very important, so I urge colleagues on both sides of the House to ask brief questions and not make …”

“I call the ever-patient Peter Swallow.”

“That concludes the statement. I thank the Secretary of State and the shadow Secretary of State for their presence throughout a lengthy session.”

“I call the shadow Secretary of State.”

“I call the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.”

“I call the Liberal Democrat spokesman.”

“I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.”

“Order. Once again, a very large number of hon. Members wish to take part in this discussion. The intention is to try to accommodate everybody, but that will mean Members exercising a degree of self-restraint that was not entirely evident during the previous statement. I leave it to you, but if you want everybody to be …”

“The hon. Gentleman clearly did not listen to a word that I said, but I am sure that the Foreign Secretary did.”

“I call the Father of the House.”

“Order. It has become apparent already that if we are to get everybody in, we will have to set a formal time limit. After the next speaker, I will put in place a six-minute time limit. If there are a lot of interventions, which will of course add time, it will be reduced smartly to five minutes and possibly even to four…”

“Order. I call John Slinger.”

“Order. I call Bradley Thomas.”

“Order. I am not saying anything. Please address the Chair.”

“Order. The right hon. Gentleman is very experienced. He should have been here at the start of the debate if he wanted to intervene.”

“Order.”

“I call the shadow Minister.”