---

: Ruling that "As the House knows, decisions about the transfer of questions are matters for Ministers, not the Chair

Ruling that "As the House knows, decisions about the transfer of questions are matters for Ministers, not the Chair. However, I have examined the question and the answer to which the hon Gentleman refers and I sympathise with his complaint. In the circumstances he describes, where the line of ministerial responsibility is not clear cut, I deprecate the transfer of a question tabled for oral answer, which has the effect of depriving the Member of the opportunity to be called to put a supplementary question to the Deputy Prime Minister" in response to point of order from Mr Paul Tyler.