HC Deb 14 May 1930 vol 238 cc1875-6
45. Captain BOURNE

asked the Prime Minister which Minister in this House replies to questions addressed to His Majesty's Paymaster-General?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury replies to questions in this House on behalf of His Majesty's Paymaster-General.

Mr. HANNON

May I ask you, Sir, on a point of Order, whether anything can be done in the House at Question Time to facilitate the process of questions on the Paper? There were to-day only 73 questions on the Paper, and it will be in your recollection that we have frequently disposed of a Paper of that size. Might I submit that you should give some advice to the House as to how we can get through a larger amount of business at Question Time? Might I also submit that it might be advisable for you to convey in some manner to Members on the Government Bench that they should not use the offensive manner that was used by one Minister to-day?

Mr. McSHANE

By a curious coincidence, I was going to raise exactly the same point. I wanted to draw your attention to the fact that every Monday and Tuesday, on account of the extraordinary number of questions asked with regard to Russia, we seldom get beyond No. 55. Might I ask whether it would not be possible in some way to limit the number of questions with regard to Russia?

Mr. SPEAKER

With regard to the first point of Order, as to how questions could be hastened up and whether I could give any advice, I am constantly giving the House advice on that point. I do my best to get through the questions on the Paper, but this is a matter which is in the hands of the House itself. There is only a limited time for a large number of questions, and, if hon. Members ask many supplementaries and expect answers, naturally the time is taken up before all the questions are reached. As regards the latter point of Order, I do not propose to be the judge of what particular matters hon. Members think of importance and upon which they wish information, and ask questions. All I can do is to see that the questions are in order that are put on the Paper.

Mr. MACLEAN

Is it usual to take advantage of a point of Order to cast reflections upon Members of the Government?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is another point of Order to which I have often had to give a reply. I always say I do not think any hon. Members ought to cast any reflections on anyone.