The following question, stood on the Order Paper in the name of Sir H. BRITTAIN:73. To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost in the way of labour and material in the manufacture of the penny; what number of these coins was minted during the last 12 months; and whether, in view of the considerable bulk 2636 and weight of this coin, he will give consideration to designs for something smaller and of more convenient size to be introduced at an early date?
§ Sir H. BRITTAINMay I not put Question No. 73? It has not been called.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member has exceeded his ration.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIf you will count my questions, Mr. Speaker, I think you will find that they are not over the ration.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI will count them again, but I have this question marked as the fourth in the hon. Member's name.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINI only put down three.
§ Sir H. BRITTAIN(later): I should still like to put Question No. 73, if I may, on the second round.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have inquired into that. My counting was done on the Blue Paper, which is the official notice to the House. I find that the hon. Member asked that a question should be taken off. That question appeared on the Blue Paper as No. 31, which accounts for the gap in the numbers in to-day's Question Paper, where there is a question missing between No. 30 and No. 32.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINI put three questions on the Order Paper, and, unless I am on starvation rations, I submit that I am entitled to ask three.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have had to rule before that Members could not withdraw a question, and in that way get in a fourth one. The Blue Paper is the official notice to the House; the White Paper is printed merely for convenience.