§ ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne), asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether arrangements can be made that Answers given by Ministers to Questions asked in the House, often of great public importance, may be published and circulated in the "Votes and Proceedings" for information of Members; seeing that such answers are generally imperfectly reported in the Press, and often inaudible in the House itself, and are not recorded in the Journals of the House?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH), (Strand, Westminster)I entertain the view which is held by many hon. Members that a considerable eco- 47 nomy of public time might be effected if Questions which are not of great public importance were not replied to in this House. That is a matter for the consideration of the House itself; but I cannot share with my hon. and gallant Friend the opinion he expresses that the newspapers do not report Answers to Questions of great public importance with accuracy. On the contrary, I believe that they report with great accuracy generally the replies to Questions on subjects of public importance.