HC Deb 24 November 1930 vol 245 cc873-4
9. Sir K. WOOD

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will ask the British Ambassador to make inquiries concerning certain decrees of the Soviet Government giving detailed instructions for the manufacture and dumping of a large number of commodities?

Mr. HAYCOCK

On a point of Order. Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, I should like to ask you, Sir, whether you yourself are satisfied that the serious allegations contained in the question can be substantiated?

Mr. SPEAKER

It is not for me to decide whether statements in questions can be substantiated.

Mr. HAYCOCK

Is there not a Regulation—Regulation No.2—governing questions, that the questioner makes himself responsible for the accuracy of his statements?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is quite another matter.

Mr. A. HENDERSON

I have already asked His Majesty's Ambassador for a report on this matter.

Sir K. WOOD

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake, so far as decrees in relation to which he gets information from our Ambassador are concerned, to make such information available to this House?

Mr. HENDERSON

Had not the right hon. Gentleman better await the report of the inquiries?

Sir K. WOOD

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give information in connection with the question I asked him last week?

Mr. HENDERSON

I am not going to give information until I have seen the report myself.

Mr. HAYCOCK

On a point of Order. May I put down a question to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs asking if he will ask the British Ambassadors to make inquiries from Germany and other countries—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member had better hand his question in at the Table.