HC Deb 13 February 1939 vol 343 cc1366-7
47. Mr. Garro Jones

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the complexity of the schedule of days of priority for the questioning of Ministers; and whether he is prepared to consider suggestions for the simplification of the schedule?

The Prime Minister

If the hon. Member has any suggestions to make for the simplification of the order of Questions, I hope that he will make them known through the usual channels so that they may receive consideration. I would remind the hon. Member that the recent re-arrangement of Questions on Wednesdays and Thursdays was made to meet the complaints of hon. Members in all parts of the House and was agreed to after discussion through the usual channels. A printed list has been issued by the authorities of the House in order to assist hon. Members to ascertain the order of Questions for some weeks in advance.

Mr. Garro Jones

Has the Prime Minister read the schedule of days of priority and, if so, can he understand it; secondly, upon whom does initiative rest in making any change? Is the Prime Minister or Mr. Speaker responsible?

The Prime Minister

The answer to the first two parts of the hon. Member's supplementary question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second part, these matters are usually arranged through what are called "the usual channels."

Mr. Garro Jones

I am anxious to ascertain, and could the Prime Minister say, who has authority to make the change in an executive way, rather than by order of the House, and whether an Order would have to be placed upon the Order Paper to make a change in the Standing Order?

The Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker is always anxious to conform to the wishes of Members. The difficulty is to collect the views of Members, and this is done through the usual channels.

Mr. Thorne

Would the Prime Minister be prepared to recommend an alteration in the Standing Orders to give another 15 minutes each day to questions?

The Prime Minister indicated dissent.

Colonel Baldwin-Webb

Is it not true that the time devoted to supplementary questions seriously makes the position worse?