From the BBC: Alistair Burt, Conservative MP for North East Bedfordshire, read out the text of a letter he had received on a Blackberry during a debate in the House of Commons on anti-social behaviour.
The Deputy Speaker Sir Michael Lord spotted Mr Burt’s device and asked: “Order. I wasn’t actually watching precisely then – were you actually reading from an electronic device.”
Mr Burt replied: “I am, which I think I’m allowed to do in the chamber.”
But Sir Michael said: “I think that is to be discouraged. I won’t say any more at this point, but I’d like to refer to it. I think that is to be discouraged. You can continue with your speech.”
Mr Burt replied: “Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker. It was a letter to me in a different form.”
But Sir Michael hit back: “Order. The use of an electronic device for reading from during a speech, I think – I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
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