§ Mr. SpeakerYesterday the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) raised a point of order concerning Questions. I remind the House of the rule which covers the blocking of Questions to Ministers. It is set out in "Erskine May" at page 332 as follows:
Questions are not in order which renew or repeat in substance questions…to which an answer has been refused or which fall within a class of question which a Minister has refused an answer.In considering the application of this rule to Questions about companies to which the Government are alleged to have applied sanctions, I have looked carefully not only at the exchanges during the Prime Minister's Question Time yesterday but at all Questions and Answers on this subject in this Session.Up till now, the Table Office has advised hon. Members, in my view correctly, that Questions asking for detailed information about these companies are not in order. As the questioning of Ministers has developed, however, I am now satisfied that it would no longer be realistic to maintain this block on detailed Questions on this subject.
884 There is a genuine doubt about the extent of the existing block, and it seems to me fair for hon. Members to be given the benefit of that doubt. I have accordingly given instructions that all such Questions handed in yesterday and held up pending this ruling shall be sent to the printer.