§ Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I record with you, in regard to the questions asked today on Bophuthatswana, that in evidence given to the Select Committee on Members' Interests by the person who represents that area of South Africa in London, we were informed that 36 Members of the House of Commons, all Conservatives apart from one, have been sent there free of charge, all expenses paid, within the last few years. That information was given in the evidence to the Committee.
We were also told that the airport to which they flew was based within the fuller Republic of South Africa, that is to say, not within the area that we are talking about, and that most people went on to other towns and cities in South Africa. It seems that Bophuthatswana is no more than a freebie stopping-over place for people wishing to visit South Africa.
§ Mr. SpeakerThose facts would have been recorded in the Register of Members' Interests.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursThey are not.
§ Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, about what was said earlier. If you allow a private notice question, I accept that on a number of occasions the Secretary of State to whom the question is addressed is not present. Where the Secretary of State is directly involved, should he not be here to answer the question'? Failing that, should there not be an apology from the Minister who answers in his place? On a matter where the Secretary of State has been directly involved in the court and in Parliament, since he was not here to answer the private notice question, should not the Minister of State at least have given an explanation?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not a matter of order in the Chamber. It is a matter for the Government which Minister answers questions or makes statements.
§ Mr. Patrick McLoughlin (Derbyshire, West)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerI hope the point of order is not about the matter that has just been raised.
§ Mr. McLoughlinNo, Mr. Speaker; it is further to the point of order raised by the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours). In regard to hon. Members declaring foreign travel, it might be useful for clarification to be included in the Register of Members' Interests about what foreign travel hon. Members should declare. Certain hon. Members have been on foreign trips that do not appear in the Register.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have always understood that trips paid for on behalf of hon. Members should be recorded.