HC Deb 14 November 1929 vol 231 cc2224-5
Mr. MACPHERSON

(by Private Notice) asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury whether any arrangements have been made with regard to the position of Scottish questions on the Order Paper.

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. T. Kennedy)

Yes, Sir. It is proposed that on Tuesdays the Lord Privy Seal, the President of the Board of Trade, the Secretary of State for War and the Secretary of State for Scotland shall in turn take first, second, third and fourth places in order of answering questions. The new arrangement will take effect from Tuesday next, on which day the order will be: Secretary of State for Scotland, Lord Privy Seal, President of the Board of Trade, Secretary of State for War. This arrangement will not affect the existing practice under which the group of questions addressed to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary to the Treasury commence at No. 45 on Tuesdays.

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if Tuesday is not the only day of the week on which Post Office questions stand a chance of being reached; and, in view of the fact that, as I well know, there are generally a large number of such questions, will he give attention to the fact that if Scottish questions are to be put in this order, very probably the same difficulty which has arisen in the case of Scotland will now arise in the case of the Post Office?

Mr. BARR

Are not Scottish questions out of all proportion more important than Post Office questions?

Mr. FREEMAN

Will copies of this list be sent to each Member of the House?

Mr. KENNEDY

Copies will be sent to each Member of the House.

Mr. REMER

Will the hon. Gentleman use his influence with the Lord Privy Seal to get the right hon. Gentleman to answer his questions more quickly next Tuesday?

Mr. THORNE

Would it put Ministers to any inconvenience if questions were put down to be answered on Friday?