HC Deb 30 July 1942 vol 382 cc694-5
Captain Plugge

On a point of Order. On the Order Paper to-day 15 Ministers have been asked Questions, but only six have been given an opportunity to reply. Cannot something be done to have the long continuous series of Questions to each individual Minister broken up so that each Minister can reply to some of his Questions in the early part of Question hour?

Mr. Speaker

Is the hon. and gallant Member referring to the time taken up by Private Business?

Captain Plugge

I am referring to a similar point of Order to the one I raised yesterday with regard to the rotation in which Questions are put on the Order Paper, which results in two-thirds of the Ministers being unable to reply to their Questions as they are clustered all together at the beginning and the end of the Order Paper. Could not these alternate more frequently throughout the Order Paper?

Mr. Speaker

I think it would be better if the Ministers made their replies a little shorter.