HC Deb 15 July 1929 vol 230 cc40-1

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. HORE-BELISHA:

90. To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty when the vessels to be built under the 1928 shipbuilding programme will be laid down?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

On a point of Order. With reference to my question, No. 90, which I addressed to the Prime Minister and which has been altered by the Clerk at the Table, to the First Lord of the Admiralty, may I point out to you, Mr. Speaker, that I put this question to the First Lord of the Admiralty last week, and I was referred to the Prime Minister. I now direct my question to the Prime Minister, and the Clerk at the Table, without notice to me, alters it back to the First Lord of the Admiralty. I want to ask you, as a point of principle, whether, when a. Member of this Houses addresses a question to a Minister, it is competent for the Clerk at the Table to re-direct that question to another Minister, so that the hon. Member concerned loses his place on the Paper.

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member has been unfortunate. Hon. Members do, in putting questions, sometimes make the mistake of putting a question to the wrong Minister.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

May I ask whether it is not the case that, when a Member directs a question to a Minister who is not competent to answer it, it is usual for another Minister to answer it, and say that he has been asked to answer it. If that procedure is followed, an hon. Member may know exactly where he stands. I have put a Question of great importance to my constituency, and I am twice prevented from getting an answer to it, and am not even given notice that a change is made.

Mr. SPEAKER

I think that that is a matter for the Minister concerned.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

That is my point.

Mr. SPEAKER

I have no control over them.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

This is a question affecting the rights of a Member. Having been specifically referred to the Prime Minister for an answer I addressed my Question to the Prime Minister, and my complaint is that it is not left addressed to that Minister by the Clerk at the Table. I want to ask whether it is competent for the Clerk at the Table to re-direct questions which Members properly address to Ministers capable of answering them?

Mr. SPEAKER

Hon. Members very often do make mistakes, and address questions to the wrong Minister. Unless the Clerk at the Table is informed of the special circumstances of the case, he would cause the question to be directed to the Minister whom it seemed to concern.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

No, that is not the point.

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member has been unfortunate, but I hope it will not occur again.