asked the Minister for Finance the currencies and amounts in which external Government debt is repayable as of 31 March 1983 or the most recent date for which figures are available; and the amount by which the recent devaluation has increased the debt in each of these currencies as of 31 March 1983.

The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Exchequer Debt Outstanding at 31 March 1983.

Ceist 17.

If the Minister——

I am making a ruling now and, until I am over-ruled, I will stand by it. Supplementary questions are not in order on replies in the form of tabular statements. Questions are answered so that everyone in the House can take an intelligent interest in what is going on. There is no way that can happen if supplementary questions are put to replies in the form of tabular statements.

This will have to be a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The Minister can give the most simple information in a tabular statement and thereby ensure that no supplementary question can be asked to elicit further information and to make further points. This will stifle any discussion or useful supplementary questions.

That would be an abuse of Question Time. If the Committee on Procedure and Privileges advise me to the contrary on my ruling I will gladly accept that advice.

If you know you are wrong, why do you have to insist on being wrong?

Deputy Collins will please withdraw that remark.

Which remark?

A suggestion that the Chair knows he is wrong and is persisting in giving wrong rulings.

I withdraw that, but you said that if you make a decision, as you have made it, you will stifle debate in the House.

I did not say that. Deputy Collins has just come into the House. We have been having this for the past quarter of an hour.

That is not true.

Simple supplementaries blossom forth into long discussions. I believe Ministers should answer questions orally or in written form.

There are questions down for tomorrow which will involve three figures. If the Minister insists on replying in a tabular form and I cannot ask supplementaries that is a nonsense.

We will wait and see what happens.

The inference in Deputy O'Kennedy's last remark is totally wide of the mark. The tabular statement in reply to this question——

I will not have Ministers saying they are answering questions with a tabular statement and then later on reading out the tabular statement. This leads to chaos. It is now 3.30 p.m. and the remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.

Could I ask for written replies to some questions?

Deputy Mitchell will obtain his replies by applying to the General Office.