HC Deb 09 May 1901 vol 93 cc1193-4
*MR. COHEN (Islington, E.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the large and increasing number of questions and supplementary questions addressed daily to Ministers before the commencement of public business, he will consider the propriety of limiting by Standing Order the number of questions which may be put on any one day by a single Member; and may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that already forty-six supplementary questions have so far been put this afternoon, and that there are four questions in the names of three hon. Members, five in the name of one hon. Member, and six in the name of three hon. Members.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

In answer to my hon. friend, I think the House must feel that there are some difficulties, and, indeed, absurdities, in connection with our present system. I do not like to comment at length upon the matter—that would be improper—but it is evident that questions are constantly put, not for the purpose of eliciting information, but, if possible, to get a "score" off a Minister, and supplementary questions are often in the nature of debate on the reply. A friend of mine made out yesterday that on Monday 105 questions and sixty-three supplementaries were asked, and on Tuesday eighty-five questions and sixty-two supplementaries were put. A system like that is open to objection; but the right of putting questions should not be unnecessarily interfered with, and I am not prepared at the present moment to suggest a remedy.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on an average each question and answer does not take half a minute?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I think far more than that.

MR. RENWICK (Newcastle-on-Tyne)

May I remind the right hon. Gentleman that in answer to a similar question which I put to him—

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! It is not in order to refer to a previous question and answer.

MR. RENWICK

Then may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will kindly state what number of questions he thinks might fairly be allowed?

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. ALFRED DAVIES

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether supplementary questions are not necessary in consequence of the unsatisfactory nature of the replies often given?