§ 30. Mr. HANNONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can furnish information on the proposals of the Chinese ministry of industries for a 10 years' plan for the conversion of China into a first-class industrial power?
§ Mr. KELLYOn a point of Order. Is not this information which can very well be obtained without putting the question on the Paper?
§ Mr. DALTONMy right hon. Friend has no information on this subject other than that furnished in recent Press reports.
§ Mr. HANNONSeeing that this is a question of universal public importance, will the hon. Member make the necessary inquiries to ascertain whether there is any substance in the statements which have appeared in the Press?
§ Mr. DALTONWe are always delighted to meet the hon. Member and my right hon. Friend will no doubt be willing to telegraph to Sir Miles Lampson to see whether there is any foundation for the statements.
Mr. MACLEANMay I draw your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the fact that these questions are put down on statements which have appeared in the Press, and that in my interview with you last week you told me definitely that questions were not permitted which dealt with statements appearing in the Press.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere is nothing about statements which appear in the Press in the question on the Paper.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is difficult to stop a supplementary question until it has been asked.