HC Deb 23 May 1960 vol 624 c23

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

27. Mr. HOLT

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will obtain an assurance from the Egg Marketing Board that the directors of any egg packing station established by the Board will not make use of privileged information relating to the Board's prices obtained by them as members of the Egg Marketing Board.

Sir A. V. Harvey

On a point of order. Referring to Question No. 27, which the hon. Member is not here to ask, does it, in your opinion, Mr. Speaker, seem right that reputations of directors of semi-Government boards should be impugned—

Mr. Speaker

I am sorry. Would the hon. Member be good enough to continue.

Sir A. V. Harvey

I was asking for your guidance on Question No. 27, which the hon. Member is not here to ask. It seems wrong that members of a board constituted indirectly by the Government should have their reputations impugned by a Question in the House.

Mr. Speaker

I follow the submission. The hon. Member would be right if it could be said that the Question reflected on some individual, but I do not think that that principle applies to a board.