QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER DISALLOWED

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise on a point of order.

Mr Speaker: What is your point of order?

Mr Jeyaretenam: The point of order concerns Standing Order No. 20 and it arises in this way, Mr Speaker, Sir. I had on the 15th of July tabled a Question for Written Answer in this House, and the question was whether the Acting Minister for Trade and Industry would tell the House of the countries to which arms are supplied by Singapore and the types of arms that are being supplied. That was given within the time allowed, and I had a letter on your behalf written by the Clerk of Parliament to say that you have ruled the question inadmissible. And the reason given was that the policy is not to disclose information which would jeopardize essential defence interests and this included arms sales.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I cannot find any such reason for disallowing a question in Standing Order 20. I do find, however, one reason, ie, a question shall not seek information about any matter which is of its nature secret. This information is far from secret. The foreign newspapers pick up the countries to which Singapore supplies arms. So it cannot be a secret matter, and I wanted to know from the Acting Minister for Trade and Industry if he will tell this House all the countries to which Singapore supplies arms.

May I seek clarification from you, Mr Speaker, Sir, on why this question was disallowed?

Mr Speaker: I think the hon. Member for Anson is an expert on Erskine May. It is clearly stated in Erskine May, 20th Edition, on page 342:

'That questions are not in order which renew or repeat in substance questions ... to which an answer has been refused or which fall within a class of questions which a Minister has refused to answer.' That is the reason why I have disallowed the question and my ruling still stands.