LEAVE TO ASK QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE (Mr David Marshall)

Mr David Marshall (Anson): Mr Speaker. Sir, under the provisions of Standing Order 18 (1), I seek leave to ask the Prime Minister a question without notice to whom I wrote this morning at very short notice referring inadvertently to Annexure I that I think is apparent, from the copy of the letter you have, is Annexure F. In Annexure F of Cmd. Paper 22 of 1963, a reference is made -

Mr Speaker: Order. As is required, the hon. Member did give me prior notice of his request, and it appears to me that a question of this nature does not strictly come under the provisions of Standing Order 18 (1) which says:

`A question shall not be asked without notice, unless the Speaker or in his absence the Deputy Speaker is of opinion that it us of an urgent character, and relates either to a matter of public importance or to the arrangement of public business and the Member has obtained the permission of the Speaker or in his absence the Deputy Speaker to ask it.'

I say it does not come strictly under Standing Order 18, because I think the opportunity will present itself to the hon. Member to ask that question during the course of the debate.