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Carers

Today, I tabled a parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Since a Foreign Office Minister is present, I wondered if I might raise the matter with you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The question was:"““To ask the Secretary of State…how many Russian diplomats have been asked to leave London for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status in the last 12 months.””" The answer is:"““I will reply to the hon. Member shortly.””" It seems to me that that cannot be an accurate or proper reply to give to a Member of Parliament—that the Foreign Office does not know how many Russian diplomats have been asked to leave because of activities incompatible with their diplomatic status. As a general point, will you say that the Chair expects that properly tabled questions deserve and require proper answers?