§ Mr. Kenneth LewisOn a point of order. In view of the fact that the Prime Minister is clearly incapable of giving us an answer on open terminals, may we have it from the Minister of Transport, who is sitting just alongside him and could have given him the answer?
§ Mr. SpeakerThis shows how right I was not to take a bogus point of order during Question Time. I take the view that hon. Members have gone to great pains to put their Questions down and to 345 frame their supplementaries during the 60 minutes of Question Time. I try to protect them if I can.
§ Mr. Hugh FraserOn a point of order. Today the Prime Minister had three Questions on telephone tapping—Numbers 1, 16 and 19. He chose to answer only Question No. 1. May I assume that he is afraid to answer the other Questions?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe second half of that spoils the point of order that the right hon. Gentleman is trying to raise. On the point of order—it is for the Minister to decide how he groups the Questions that he chooses to answer.
§ Sir Harmar NichollsOn a point of order. I understand your reluctance to have Question Time interfered with, Mr. Speaker, but is it now a new rule that on no occasion may points of order be raised during Question Time?
§ Mr. SpeakerNo. Mr. Speaker mentioned no absolute rule. The House must have confidence in Mr. Speaker. I know that it is sometimes difficult.