§ 49. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to institute arrangements whereby questions put down for written answers shall be answered by the Department concerned on a specified date if so indicated, unless reason can be shown that the information cannot he obtained by that date?
§ The Prime MinisterI recently called the attention of Departments to the importance of ensuring that undue delay does not occur in the circulation of answers to questions for written reply, and I regard the existing arrangements as satisfactory. The House will, however, appreciate that it is not in all cases practicable to arrange for the preparation of the required answer in time for circulation on a specified day. To provide for this eventuality I have arranged that, if for any reason it is found impossible to circulate the answer within four days of the specified date, the hon. Member concerned should be notified that inquiries are being made and that the question has not been overlooked.
§ Mr. Garro JonesWhat is there in written answers which makes it impossible to give them on specified dates, whereas oral questions can be so answered?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is, of course, no definite distinction between them, but very frequently the questions put down for written answer require a great deal of investigation.
§ Mr. Wedgwood BennIs the Prime Minister aware of the delay which frequently occurs in giving replies to non-oral questions and which forces hon. Members to star the questions and overload the Question Paper?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, I was not aware of that, but I think there has sometimes been undue delay. I think the new arrangement which I am making will correct it.
§ Mr. EdeWill the right hon. Gentleman consider shortening the four days after which a question is to be overdue and notification is to be sent to a Member, because occasionally a Member puts down a question with a view to getting information before a particular debate, and if the answer is not likely to be to hand by that time it would be an act of courtesy to notify him of that fact?
§ The Prime MinisterI could not undertake that Members should be notified in less than four days, which I think is a reasonable time.
§ Mr. BennIs not this an innovation, and has not 24 hours' notice been satisfactory for oral questions?
§ The Prime MinisterThere have been improvements in lots of cases.
§ 50. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the heavy expenditure being incurred by the Air Ministry and the great importance of questions connected with air Defence, he will now make arrangements whereby the Secretary of State for Air shall be a Member of this House?
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which my predecessor gave to him on 15th March last, in reply to a similar question, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a very strong feeling exists on all sides of the House about the great inconvenience to Members in not being able to put questions direct to the head of this great spending Department?
§ Mr. Anstruther-GrayWill the right hon. Gentleman also bear in mind that many hon. Members opposite attach so little importance to Defence that they are not prepared to do anything?