Speeches by Gale.

“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.”

“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 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. I call John Slinger.”

“Order.”

“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. 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.”

“Order. First, I am not. Secondly, the Secretary of State came very close to unparliamentary language in accusing another hon. Member of hypocrisy; I am sure she did not intend that.”

“Order. Having lowered the temperature, I trust that I can now rely on the shadow Minister to maintain the lowered temperature. If not, I might have to intervene.”

“Order. Some 20 Members are still seeking to ask questions, and we have an important debate to follow. The questions are getting longer, and so, I fear, Minister, are the answers. Can I urge brevity again, please?”

“I am sure that the hon. Member for Harlow will wish to correct the record.”

“I call Warinder Juss—not here.”