§ Q8. Dame Irene Wardasked the Prime Minister if he will publish the text of his letter to the North-East Development Council refusing their request to meet him, and the date the reply was sent.
§ The Prime MinisterWith the agreement of the council, the letter sent to it on my behalf on 19th February has been published, and a copy is available in the Library.
§ Dame Irene WardWhy, when my Question was on the Order Paper, did the right hon. Gentleman release the document to the Press this morning between 11 and 11.30? Is this not a gross abuse of the traditions of the House?
§ The Prime MinisterStudying the Question put by the hon. Gentleman—
§ Dame Irene WardHon. Lady.
§ The Prime MinisterI profoundly apologise.
Studying the Question, as I did, put down by the hon. Lady, I thought that I 265 did exactly what she was asking me in the Question to do.
§ Dame Irene Wardrose
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Dame Irene WardOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment, when I hope that the Prime Minister will be present to reply.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I remind the House that the early giving of notice to raise a matter on the Adjournment cuts out another hon. Member's supplementary question.