Treatment of female MPs defended

Mr Sheehan claimed the education secretary could not be heard.

The treatment of women MPs in the House of Commons was defended by the Speaker on Thursday, after accusations that they were heckled more than men.

Speaker Michael Martin was responding to claims that Education Secretary Ruth Kelly was subjected to an "orchestrated noise" when she was trying to speak.

Labour MP Barry Sheerman said this happened more to women than male MPs.

But Mr Martin said: "All members are treated equally in this house regardless of their gender."

'Technical difficulties'

Mr Sheerman, who was making a point of order, said many MPs had been unable to hear the education secretary, during Tuesday's Queen's Speech debate.

"It was a common complaint that we could not hear our speaker speak because there was an orchestrated noise from the other benches," he said.

Mr Sheerman said his daughters make him 'pro women's rights'.

"This technique is used more against women members in the house than against men," he added.

But Conservative Julian Lewis, MP for New Forest East, said he was present at the time and claimed the education secretary's inaudibility was more a case of the microphones not working correctly.

"I have seen occasions when members have been shouted down from either side ... this was not one of those occasions," he said.

The Speaker, who presides over Commons proceedings, said there had been some technical difficulties with microphones in the chamber and he had asked officials to take a look at them during the coming recess period.

Referring to Mr Sheerman's remarks he added: "No one will be shouted down or talked down in that manner."