HC Deb 19 May 1930 vol 239 cc37-9
Sir W. DAVISON

May I ask, Mr. Speaker, whether you will be good enough for the convenience of Members to arrange for an Index of Questions to be kept up to date in the Library, having regard to the fact that no index is now available for some six or seven weeks after a question is asked in the House until such time as the bound volume of the OFFICIAL REPORT is published?

Mr. SPEAKER

I have made some inquiries into this particular question since the hon. Member gave me notice of it, and I find that Mr. Whitley, when he was Speaker, directed that an Index of Questions should be kept in the Library by way of an experiment in 1925. At the same time, he directed that a record should be kept of the number of Members using the index in order to compare its utility with the labour and cost. On several occasions, he directed the attention of Members to the existence of the Index of Questions and specially asked them to make use of it. Nevertheless, after 10 Parliamentary weeks, he found that so little use was made of the index that he did not feel justified in proceeding further with the experiment and directed its discontinuance in 1926. I cannot think that any change has taken place which would give a different issue, but, as far as a change has taken place, I shall be glad to reconsider the whole position.

Sir W. DAVISON

May I point out that when the index was tried by Mr. Whitley it was started in July, 1925, just immediately before the long vacation and a great number of Members, although the late Speaker mentioned it once or twice, were not aware of it. Would you be good enough to try it for a month or two now with a notice placed in the Library to say that such an index is available if Members desire to use it?

Mr. SPEAKER

I shall be quite willing to reconsider the whole matter, and, if there is any evidence of a general desire for it, I shall be glad to make the experiment again. The hon. Member who would benefit most would be myself.

Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLE

Would you be good enough, Mr. Speaker, to bear in mind that since the decision of Mr. Whitley there is a new Opposition, and a much more active Opposition?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is a matter of opinion.

Sir B. FALLE

May I ask who will prepare the index and whether there will be a salary for the labour involved?

Mr. SPEAKER

I cannot go into those matters now. I know what will be the actual cost of the experiment.