§ MR. COGHILL (Stoke-upon-Trent)asked Mr. Speaker how it was that a Question which he had put down to the Secretary for War, and which stood No. 1 on the Order-book, had that day been placed No. 42. He knew that it was the practice to put all Questions to the Prime Minister late in the sitting, but he thought it extremely inconvenient that the Questions to other Ministers should be moved about in that way.
§ * MR. SPEAKERsaid that when the new rule as to "Questions" was settled two years ago it was suggested by the First Lord of the Treasury, with the general assent of the House, that the Questions should be so arranged as to ensure that those addressed to Ministers specially busy in their Departments should be placed near the end of the list, and the Secretary for War was one of those Ministers who had been deemed to be entitled to this consideration.
§ MR. COGHILLCould not the change be made earlier? I find my Question stood No. 1 in the Order-book this morning.
§ * MR. SPEAKERI will inquire as to that.