HC Deb 06 May 1971 vol 816 cc1642-3
Mr. Eadie

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I seek your guidance about a matter concerning answers by the Prime Minister at Question Time. It appears that the Answer which the Prime Minister gave to Questions 2 and 4 was part of tactics being deliberately pursued by his Department to block answers. Since you are the protector of the rights of back benchers, may I ask you to study the matter when it appears in HANSARD.

If my recollection is right, the effect of the Answer is that no hon. Member can put a Question to the Prime Minister about the appointment of additional Ministers. I am connected with the power and steel group and the mining industry group and have in the past endeavoured to put Questions to the Prime Minister about certain important matters concerning these groups. The Prime Minister gave them what he has given today—a blocking Answer preventing hon. Members from putting down Questions about Ministerial appointments. This is a serious matter for back benchers who wish to question the right hon. Gentleman on these issues. I would ask you to examine the Answer and to assist the House on this matter.

Mr. Speaker

I understand the importance which the hon. Member attaches to this, but I do not think it is a Question for the Chair. Since he has asked me to examine it, I will willingly do so. The organisation of Questions and the content of Answers are not matters for the Chair. They are matters, if need be, for the Select Committee on Procedure or the usual channels.

Mr. Peter Archer

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. When you are considering the matter, would you consider the extent to which it is in the unfettered discretion of the Prime Minister to decide which Questions he will link for the purposes of an Answer, since Questions 2 and 4 have nothing in common except that they admitted of the same blocking answer?

Mr. Onslow

Would you also consider, Mr. Speaker, that it might be very much in the interests of the House as a whole that my right hon. Friend should continue to give answers which prevent boring and repetitive Questions from the Opposition?

Mr. Speaker

That confirms my view that it is time the right hon. Member the Leader of the Opposition asked the business question.