The following question stood on the Order Paper in the name of Sir J. REMNANT—4. To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will state how many aliens resident in this country are given special police protection?
§ Sir J. REMNANTMay I ask the Under-Secretary for the Home Office if he will supply an answer to my question, of which notice has been given?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Baird)I am sorry that I have not the answer to-day.
§ Sir J. REMNANTThere is no representative of the Postmaster-General present to reply to my further question which I have put—
2. Whether his attention has been called to the case of certain assistant inspectors of traffic in the secretary's office of the Post Office, formerly employed as assistant superintendents of traffic in the London Telephone Service, who have been graded junior to officers from the provinces appointed at about the same time; whether he is aware that they have been placed at this disadvantage solely on account of the two years' delay in revising the scale of pay of the London class; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with their cases?
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERI would remind the hon. Member that there is no obligation on any Minister to be present on Friday.
§ Sir J. REMNANTAs a matter of courtesy, and in accordance with the custom of this House, when a question is put down, and having regard to the fact that we have to wait a week, ought not the Minister to be present to give an answer?
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERNo. On the contrary, it has been the practice ever since I was a Member of this House that there is no kind of obligation on any Minister to be present on Friday.
§ Sir J. REMNANTI will not attempt to argue your decision, but having regard to the numerous questions this Session, I thought that when a question was put down on Friday, it would be answered. It is the last thing that I should think of doing to put down any questions which would inconvenience Ministers, but if they are not answered on Friday, can they go over until Monday?
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERIf the hon. Member does not put it down for Monday he will receive a written answer in due course.
§ Sir J. REMNANTCan I put it down for Monday when the question has been called, and I have put it?