Points of Order

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am grateful that you have given me this opportunity. Can you advise all hon. Members on appropriate behaviour in the Chamber? Last Tuesday, following a heated debate in the House and after making a fiery contribution, the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Lloyd Russell-Moyle) left the Chamber and returned shortly afterwards to sit on a side bench on the Government side of the House, despite there being plenty of space on the Opposition Benches. He then proceeded to stare at my hon. Friend the Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge (Miriam Cates). There can be no other explanation for that behaviour other than as an attempt to intimidate. Can you confirm that such behaviour is completely inappropriate and that all hon. Members have a duty not to attempt to intimidate other hon. Members?

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that point of order and for giving me advance notice of it. Can he first confirm that he informed the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Lloyd Russell-Moyle) that he was going to make the point of order?

Yes, I did.

I am glad. As the hon. Gentleman knows, I said to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown last week that he needed to moderate his language and that that was not the sort of behaviour we expect in the House. With regard to where he sat afterwards, he has not had an opportunity to respond to what the hon. Member for Peterborough (Paul Bristow) said. Obviously, I would not like to see any behaviour that was felt to be intimidatory to any other hon. Member, but I hope that he will understand that, having said that, it is very difficult for me to know what was in the mind of the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown regarding where he sat during the latter part of the debate. As the hon. Member for Peterborough knows, any hon. Gentleman or hon. Lady can sit in the end seats, but I would not want any hon. Member to feel intimidated by the behaviour of another.

Further to that point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker.

I hope that we will not be prolonging this excessively.

I also felt disappointed for the hon. Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge (Miriam Cates) about what happened last week. I know that you, Madam Deputy Speaker, reminded the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Lloyd Russell-Moyle) about decorum and courtesy in this House, for which I thank you. It is important for all hon. Members to recognise that, although we have different opinions, we should respect each other. That respect is sometimes missing among some hon. Members.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that further point of order. It is only fair to point out that the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown apologised for his behaviour the next day, and apologised to me as well. I think we should now move on.

Northern Ireland Budget Bill (Allocation of Time)

That the following provisions shall apply to the proceedings on the Northern Ireland Budget Bill:

(1)(a) Proceedings on Second Reading and in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken at today’s sitting in accordance with this Order.

(b) Proceedings on Second Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion four hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.

(c) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion six hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.

(2) When the Bill has been read a second time:

(a) it shall, despite Standing Order No. 63 (Committal of bills not subject to a programme order), stand committed to a Committee of the whole House without any Question being put;

(b) the Speaker shall leave the chair whether or not notice of an Instruction has been given.

(3)(a) On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee of the whole House, the Chair shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question.