§ The following Motion stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. Garro Jones:
"That this House, taking note that its procedure governing the number of questions which may be put by Members has from time to time been established by Mr. Speaker taking the general sense of the House upon successive proposals for limitation made to him by honourable Members; observing from the official reports that the general sense of the House has been on subsequent days challenged or denied; recognising that the practice of the House, as now followed, has not resulted in even and consistent regulation of supplementary questions as between honourable 178 Members desiring to put them, or in adequate opportunities for putting starred questions to certain Ministers; being of the opinion that the schedule of days allocated to the questioning of various Ministers has; reached a complexity which defeats its own object of facilitating oral interrogation of Ministers on specified days; and deprecating in regard to unstarred questions the frequent failure of Ministers to adhere to the dates named for replies; resolves that the matters above-mentioned be referred to a Select Committee to be appointed to consider and report to the House upon the best methods of regulating the right of Parliamentary interrogation within the limits of time available for that purpose."
§ 11.10 p.m.
§ Mr. Garro JonesI beg to move.
§ Mr. Garro JonesMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman — —
§ Mr. Deputy-Speaker (Sir Dennis Herbert)Objection is taken. There is no Question before the House.
§ Mr. Garro JonesOn a point of Order. Is it not usual to allow a Member to make an appeal to the Minister concerned to withdraw his objection to a Motion on the Paper?
§ Mr. Deputy-SpeakerI have often heard appeals, both to Ministers and to other Members and they have been disregarded.
§ Mr. Garro JonesThis day six months.
§ The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.