Speeches by Ghani.

“I do not doubt that the matter is indeed serious, but it is not a point of order or a matter for the Chair, whose powers do not extend to Staffordshire county council. The hon. Member has nonetheless got his very important matter on the record.”

“Order. The hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Tony Vaughan) has been here for a while. He was not allowed to make a speech because he was not here at the beginning of the debate, but he has been here for a while.”

“Order. Just to make sure that the hon. Member does not make a further mistake, I remind her not to mention colleagues by their first name.”

“Order. For colleagues’ information, I should say that I intend to take everybody, but how long that will take depends on the length of the questions; we could be here for quite some time. Can questions and answers please be short?”

“I call Mark Sewards for the final question.”

“Order. We do not need chuntering from the Back Benches, and I can determine whether the House has or has not been misled.”

“I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.”

“Order. Before we come to the urgent question on absconded prisoners, I should inform the House that one of the prisoners has been charged with escaping from lawful custody and the matter is now sub judice. Members should therefore avoid references to the specific circumstances of the individual case. Questions on the b…”

“The hon. Lady, due to her experience, will know that the Chair is not responsible for the content of Members’ contributions, or those of Ministers—if only we were. She has no doubt got her point on the record, and we do not wish to continue the debate.”

“I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.”

“I call the Chair of the Justice Committee.”

“I call the Leader of the Opposition.”

“Order. Colleagues will struggle to get in unless they keep their questions short, and the Minister should make sure that his answers are just as short.”

“I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.”

“Order. Here is a new year tip: look at your question, cross most of it out, and then continue.”

“Order.”

“I urge colleagues to keep their questions short, and for the answers to be on point.”

“I call Justice Committee member, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst.”

“I call the Chair of the Defence Committee.”

“I call Justice Committee member, Warinder Juss.”