Only a couple of weeks ago I was highlighting Roy Hattersley's concern about Prime Minister's Question time, and I was chided by Harry Barnes who said it may not be perfect, but it did at least represent an opportunity for backbench MPs to raise matters in the House directly with the PM. Today, at PMQs, Ann Widdecombe provided a splendid example of what Harry was saying:

Miss Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con): May I ask the Prime Minister if he will personally take time out of this busy day, first, to confirm that it is still the policy of his Government, as it has been of previous Governments, not to deport people to countries that have the death penalty, and in which they are in danger from the death penalty? Is he aware that in nine hours, this country is going to deport a Christian lady, Samar Razavi, who apostasised in Iran and fled that country? She is under a death warrant from Iran, but has been refused asylum. I do not ask him to comment on asylum; will he please look at the case with an urgent view to intervention?

The Prime Minister: Of course, I will look at the case that the right hon. Lady has brought to me—we shall look at it in detail immediately. I have to say to her that it is our policy not to deport to countries where torture is being practised. We are trying to sign new agreements with individual countries where they will guarantee to repatriate people, but on the condition that there will be no torture. We have signed three agreements already, and there are many more that we wish to sign and we will try to move this matter forward. I hope that the right hon. Lady will give us all the details today so that we can follow it up.