HC Deb 16 October 1969 vol 788 cc605-6
Mr. Speaker

Mr. Heath. Business Question.

Sir Ian Orr-Ewing

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Has the Prime Minister sought your permission to answer Question No. Q 12? I put forward this point of view for a serious reason since the Paymaster-General has often been responsible for the co-ordination of Government information services. We have read in the Evening Standard, in an article from a most responsible source, that not only have 164 extra Press relations officers with strong Socialist views been appointed, but—

Hon. Members

Sit down!

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member must resume his seat when Mr. Speaker stands. I was seized of the point of order at the beginning. It developed into a supplementary question that he might have asked had the Question been answered by the Prime Minister. I had called the Leader of the Opposition for the Business Question, which indicates that the Prime Minister had not asked me whether he might answer Question No. Q 12.

Sir Ian Orr-Ewing rose

Hon. Members

Cheat.

Sir Ian Orr-Ewing

My motive, Sir, was in order that the anxieties of the House could be set at rest at the earliest possible moment.

Mr. Speaker

Nobody in the House ever questions any other hon. Member's motive. I am simply dealing with the point of order.