(Bristol East)
(Lab): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I would have
given advance notice of this point of order, but I thought that
we were having points of order a little later. Last week, after
meeting trade union representatives from Rolls-Royce outside
Bristol, I attempted to table a written question asking whether
the Government are seeking to stay in the European Aviation
Safety Agency post Brexit. My question was rejected, on the
grounds that a similar question had been asked back in January
and nothing had changed. The answer to that question had been
that we cannot pre-empt the negotiations. Today I would like
clarity on two points. First, how will we know that nothing has
changed if we are not allowed to table questions about this?
Secondly, I have been told that I cannot ask the question again
until the end of the Brexit negotiations, which seems absolutely
ludicrous.
Mr Speaker: Well, it strikes me as a very rum
business indeed. I hope that it will be possible for the hon.
Lady to receive some satisfaction. My strong advice to her is
that she should make the very short journey from here to the
Table Office and seek advice, because I am quite sure that it
will be possible to achieve a satisfactory outcome. Forgive me
for making this point again, but I do make it again: the hon.
Lady effectively refers to being denied on grounds of repetition.
Repetition is not a novel phenomenon in the House of Commons. I
think that we will leave it there for today.
