HC Deb 18 April 1939 vol 346 c148
Mr. T. Smith

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information to give the House on the recent visit of the British trade delegation to various foreign countries?

55. Mr. Shin well

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can now make a statement on the conversations between himself: and the representatives of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Polish Government?

Mr. Stanley

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 6th April in reply to a question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Wakefield (Mr. Greenwood), to which I have at present nothing to add.

Mr. Shinwell

May I ask to whom we should put questions about the conversations taking place between the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department and other countries? Ought questions to be put to him or to his right hon. Friend?

Mr. Stanley

Of these two questions, one was put to me and the other to my right hon. Friend. For the convenience of the House, I answered both.

Mr. Shinwell

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask for your guidance as to what should be done in these circumstances? Are we to address questions of this kind to the appropriate Minister or to some other Member of the Government?

Mr. Speaker

To the appropriate Minister.

Mr. Shinwell

Further to my point of Order. Is not the Minister in this case the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, who conducted the conversations and is best capable of giving an answer?

Mr. Speaker

One of these questions was addressed to the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department.

Mr. Shinwell

May I point out that Question 55 was addressed to the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, but that it was replied to by the President of the Board of Trade, who has nothing to do with the matter":