asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions have been issued by the head of the Economic Sub-Commission of the Control Commission for Germany forbidding members of that branch of the staff to communicate with Members of Parliament on any subject.

The officer in question has recently reminded his staff of the normal practice of public Departments whereby official information on a matter for which the Department has responsibility should be given to Members of Parliament only by a Minister. These instructions do not of course preclude the oral communication of information to Members visiting Germany. They affect only the subject matter of the official duties of the staff.