§ Mr. SpeakerYesterday the hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Wallace) raised a point concerning possible inconsistency by the Table Office in its treatment of Questions relating to consumer protection.
1513 I have looked into the matter, and find that the hon. Member's Question was disallowed in the first instance not because it related to consumer protection as such, but because it asked for action which would have involved legislation. In the Answer of 18th July, which the hon. Member was shown, and to which he referred yesterday, the Minister said that he was satisfied with the legislative protection which existed. Although this effectively barred further Questions asking for new legislation, a re-draft which avoided this difficulty was put to the hon. Member and accepted by him.
Question No. 30 on yesterday's Order Paper by the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward Taylor), however, related purely to the distribution of ministerial responsibilities within the Department of Trade and Industry. This did not involve any legislation, and, therefore, was not barred by the Answer of 18th July.