FORGET the future of John Major and Conservative policy on Europe, all the talk in the House of Commons is about what has become known as the "Great Pot of Tea Mystery". Apparently the tea changed colour before the very eyes of the astonished Douglas French, Tory member for Gloucester.

"It literally paled into insignificance," he said. "The first cup was distinctly weak, but I assumed it would improve with infusion. We poured boiling water into the pot - but the second cup was even paler and the third totally colourless. We peered into the pot and found not a tea bag in sight - not even a single tea leaf."

Mr French said that when his group expressed its concern, a member of the staff said they used powdered tea to control costs.

"Just imagine," said Mr French. "Here we are in the House of Commons, at the heart of a great tea drinking nation, and what we get is a bit of dust at the bottom of the pot which vanished altogether in a shower of water. I simply could not believe it."

It would never happen in the Dail bar - where there is little demand for tea and the beer, we are assured, is the real thing.