§ Mr. Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I apologise for jumping the gun, but a fortnight ago I tabled a question for oral answer by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the hope that today I would have had the opportunity of asking a supplementary question. That question related to an important speech that the Foreign Secretary made to the Royal Commonwealth Society earlier this month. The question was accepted by the Table Office, but subsequently it was transferred to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development, presumably because the speech was entirely devoted to overseas aid.
I seek your guidance on this point, Mr. Speaker, because I believe that it affects the rights and opportunities of all hon. Members. Should not an hon. Member have the opportunity of questioning a Secretary of State, who is head of a Department, about a subject for which he has overall responsibility, especially when the question relates to a speech that the Secretary of State made?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman will be aware that questions on overseas aid are addressed to the Secretary of State, but it has always been up to the Government to decide which Minister will answer. I cannot decide from the Chair who will answer a given question. I am sorry that I cannot give the hon. Gentleman a more helpful reply.