Mr Robert Maxwell: Rubbish.
Mr Robert Maxwell: rose—
Mr Robert Maxwell: rose—
Mr Robert Maxwell: I have been asked to reply. Up to 17th November there have been 21 cancellations, representing 4½ per cent. of the total bookings. I regret these cancelled bookings and the Catering Sub-Committee will look into the prices again.
Mr Robert Maxwell: In the past the onus of cancellation fell on the Department which has been having great difficulty in meeting its costs and the answer is, therefore, yes. I feel that a booking fee is necessary in order to prevent the Catering Department from suffering these losses and, in particular, in order to prevent hon. Members who want to book rooms from being unable to do so. However, as the Leader of...
Mr Robert Maxwell: The Catering Sub-Committee has this very much in mind. We think that the House of Commons is here to serve hon. Members and their guests in the first instance and of course political functions have as much priority as any business functions, and we shall certainly bear this in mind when fixing prices.
Mr Robert Maxwell: I regret these cancellations if they are made on grounds of cost to hon. Members and their constituents and if they create inconvenience, and the Sub-Committee would like to avoid that if it is at all possible.
Mr Robert Maxwell: Would my right hon. Friend say what pure research is being done by the Agricultural Research Council in this area, whether he has been in touch with the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome with a view to getting its assistance, and whether he would be willing and able to make a statement in due course about the research and development which might be done to prevent this kind of...
Mr Robert Maxwell: On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I would like to obtain your advice on a matter of privilege, a letter which is published in today's issue of the Illustrated—
Mr Robert Maxwell: I have just received the publication which I have in my hand and I have not had any time to consult anybody about what I ought to do about it, Sir. I would be grateful if you would either permit me to raise the matter now, or alternatively, I should be glad to do it tomorrow.
Mr Robert Maxwell: Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?
Mr Robert Maxwell: I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for giving way. Would he not agree that he obviously appears not to understand the facts? I am a major exporter in this country—[Interruption.] Many thousands of exporters will have done what I have done—[Interruption.]—which is to increase the sterling price equivalent so that the benefit of devaluation entirely comes to this country, and I...
Mr Robert Maxwell: Mr. Maxwell rose—
Mr Robert Maxwell: Mr. Maxwell rose—
Mr Robert Maxwell: Hear, hear.
Mr Robert Maxwell: Mr. Maxwellrose—
Mr Robert Maxwell: Mr. Maxwellrose—
Mr Robert Maxwell: Mr. Robert Maxwell (Buckingham) rose—
Mr Robert Maxwell: Will the right hon. Gentleman give way now?
Mr Robert Maxwell: Even assuming that the figure given by the right hon. Gentleman of the net cost to the reserves for good is £150 million, which I do not accept, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have succeeded in negotiating a devaluation, with most of our competitiors still at their rates of exchange, thus giving us a benefit and thus giving us a trading advantage....
