David Norris (Independent)

I hope to speak on the very important issue of autism on Thursday when I will take a divergent view from that of the Minister for Education and Science. I deplore the fact that in the past week or so the Opposition in the other House twice targeted Ministers by suggesting they had deliberately absented themselves to travel abroad on frolics, whereas they were engaged in State business. This hockeying up of Ministers in their absence when they are engaged in valuable work does not do credit to politics. I point to the tradition in this House, from which the other House could learn, of not referring to the absence of Members.