Speeches by Gale.

“I call the Father of the House.”

“I call the shadow Minister.”

“I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.”

“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 Liberal Democrat spokesman.”

“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 …”

“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…”

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

“Order. I call Bradley Thomas.”

“Order. I call John Slinger.”

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

“Order.”

“I call the shadow Minister.”

“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. The winding-up speeches will have to start at 5.30 pm. There are 37 Members standing on both sides of the House. I am not allowed to impose a time limit, but were I to do so, it would be about four minutes. It is for Members to decide whether to allow their colleagues to speak or to take up more of the time, in …”

“Order.”