§ Mr. TebbitOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In answer to a supplementary question on Question No. 17, the Under-Secretary of State said that he was precluded from answering questions about the staffing of the National Enterprise Board because the matter of a Question which had been blocked by his Department to prevent the House from asking such Questions had been referred to you as a matter of order. Surely nothing has happened in the reference to you on a matter of order on that Question that precludes the Minister, if he is willing to do so, from answering a Question about how many people are employed by the National Enterprise Board.
§ Mr. SpeakerI think the hon. Gentleman will remember also that the Lord President of the Council said that he would consider this matter. I think it is a matter for Ministers to decide what Questions they will answer. This is not a matter for the Chair. I think that we had better leave it for the Minister to consider the matter—the Lord President said that he would do so—and await a statement from him.