Mr SPEAKER —The Treasurer has indicated to me that he wishes to add to an answer that he gave yesterday.

Mr HOWARD —Yes. Mr Speaker, I was asked a question yesterday by the honourable member for Blaxland (Mr Keating)--

Mr Lionel Bowen —Not again.

Mr HOWARD —Yes, again.

Mr Keating —You are back again.

Mr HOWARD —Yes, back again. I always like to answer the honourable member in full.

Mr Keating —I will be back too so don't worry about it.

Mr SPEAKER —The Treasurer should proceed.

Mr HOWARD —I indicated that I would have a look at Budget Paper No. 2 for this year to see whether the types of forecasts about employment and unemployment contained in it were different--

Mr Scholes —There was no question today.

Mr Keating —I take a point of order. I gave notice of a motion today in respect of this subject. If the Treasurer wishes to call that notice on for debate I would be happy to debate it.

Mr SPEAKER —I indicate to the Treasurer that he is speaking with my indulgence, after the end of Question Time, in order to add to an answer. It is a matter for the Treasurer to consider whether he wishes to proceed to give the answer if issues arise which indicate that indulgence would be opposed. The Treasurer can continue his answer if he chooses to do so.

Mr HOWARD —I simply indicated to the honourable gentleman yesterday that I would check, which, of course, he could do also because these are matters of public record, whether the types of forecasts about employment and unemployment in this year's Budget Paper No. 2 were different from the types of forecasts on those subjects in earlier statements. It is not only my view after checking those figures but also the view of my departmental officers, whom I consulted to obtain their opinion, that the types of forecasts are not materially different although the substance is different. The only other matter I would mention, and it is a matter of--

Opposition members interjecting-

Mr HOWARD —All right; if indulgence is being opposed and I am prevented from correcting an inadvertent error which I made in giving an answer yesterday, be that on the head of the Opposition.

Mr Keating —On a point of order, I have not denied the Treasurer leave at all. I have suggested that he bring the motion on. If he does not, we will, of course, give him leave to reply.

Mr HOWARD —The other matter I wanted to add is not of any consequence. However, because I did inadvertently mislead the House, I ought to--

Opposition members-Oh!

Mr HOWARD —Opposition members should wait till they hear it; it is of really dramatic consequence. In the course of correcting something that had been said by the honourable member for Blaxland yesterday, I indicated that the person on my staff whom the honourable gentleman named was in fact a member of my party.

Mr Leo McLeay —He even resigned in disgust, did he?

Mr HOWARD —He has informed me that although he is--

Mr SPEAKER —Order! The Minister will resume his seat.

Mr HOWARD —A supporter of my party--

Mr SPEAKER —Order! The Treasurer will resume his seat. The honourable member for Grayndler interjected loudly and has done so earlier in the day. As a matter of courtesy, I think honourable members should allow an honourable member who is speaking with the indulgence of the Chair to make a statement in silence.

Mr HOWARD —The gentleman in question, although a supporter of the Liberal Party , has advised me that he is not formally a member and to the extent that I misled the House on that point I apologise.

Mr Keating —I claim to have been misrepresented by the effect of what the Treasurer said and seek leave to make a statement on the same subject.

Mr SPEAKER —Is leave granted?

Government members-No!

Mr SPEAKER —Leave is not granted.