HC Deb 16 May 1972 vol 837 cc240-1

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

Q8. Mr. WILLIAM HAMILTON

To ask the Prime Minister whether he can now say when he intends to take an official flight in the Concorde aircraft.

Mr. William Hamilton

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. May I refer to Question No. Q8 on today's Order Paper? Yesterday I received a letter from the Prime Minister indicating the answer to the Question; namely, that he was to fly in Concorde on Friday this week—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]—as an unpaying passenger.

There has been a "leak" of this information which has had the effect of forestalling Questions and supplementary questions in the House to the Prime Minister on this very important matter. Is it in your power, Mr. Speaker, to cause an investigation to be made into the origin of the "leak"?

The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)

I wrote to the hon. Gentleman yesterday because it came to my knowledge that the information that I was going to fly in Concorde on Friday had already come to the notice of the Press and I therefore thought it only courteous that I should write and inform him. There is no evidence that the information came from Government sources. The simple fact is that a flight in Concorde involves a considerable number of people on both sides of the Channel. Therefore, it is not my responsibility if through some of those concerned with the organisation it comes to the notice of others outside the Government.

Mr. Speaker

In any case, it is not covered by the Standing Orders of the House. Sir John Langford-Holt.

Sir J. Langford-Holt rose—

Mr. Latham rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I apologise to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt), but another hon. Members wishes to raise a point of order.