HC Deb 30 May 1940 vol 361 cc665-6
Mr. Garro Jones

On a point of Order. I would respectfully ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether, in a case in which a Minister has a Question addressed to him and diverts that Question to another Minister, under a misapprehension, you have power to order that that Question shall be readdressed to the Minister to whom it was originally addressed on the Order Paper? I am referring in particular to Question 102: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production whether, having in view the superiority of our leading types of aircraft and the comparative immunity from attack at night and in conditions of low visibility of bomber types with a lower performance and simpler construction and equipment, he is fully satisfied that our, and world, sources of supply of such aircraft are being promptly and adequately exploited, which is primarily a tactical question and therefore is addressed to the Secretary of State for Air. I am put into contact with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production who cannot possibly move in the matter until the overriding tactical question is decided. I therefore ask you whether I may not have my Question readdressed to the Minister to whom I put it?

Mr. Speaker

If the Question relates to a matter for which the Air Ministry is primarily responsible, certainly the hon. Member may have his Question readdressed to the Secretary of State for Air.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

On a point of Order. May I ask for your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, whether I would now be in order, in view of the unsatisfactory reply I received to Question 34, in giving notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. and gallant Member should have done that at the time.

Sir William Davison

May I ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker, as to the advisability or otherwise of putting on the Order Paper Questions which are likely to be of assistance to the enemy? Cannot something be done to prevent it, in view of the correspondence which hon. Members receive from Britons living abroad, pointing out the great harm which is done by Questions and Supplementary Questions in the House of Commons?

Mr. Speaker

I should not like to undertake the task myself, but a Minister can always refuse to answer Questions on the ground of public interest.