Parliament: The House

Religious bar

LABOUR BACKBENCHERS called for an end to the present "absurd position" that disqualified ministers of some religious denominations from sitting as MPs.

Foster's health

DEREK FOSTER, 61, the former Labour chief whip, has undergone heart surgery. The MP for Bishop Auckland is fully recovered and back at work.

Gold sale

THE DECISION by the Government to sell more than half the gold reserves has cost the taxpayer at least pounds 400m before an ounce has been sold because it caused bullion's market price to drop 10 per cent, Tories claimed.