HC Deb 14 July 1943 vol 391 cc201-2
Sir G. Gibson

Last week I put down three Questions to the Minister of Supply. Two of them are Nos. 53 and 54, which have been answered to-day. Another one dealing with the same subject was for some reason transferred to the Board of Trade, with the result that it is No. 107 on the Order Paper and has, therefore, no chance of receiving an oral reply. They are all connected with one another, and I would like to know why one was transferred.

Mr. Speaker

This question is very often asked. If a Member puts down a Question to the wrong Department, he must not be surprised if it is transferred to the right Department.

Sir G. Gibson

They all deal with the same subject. Two have been replied to, as I desired, by the Minister of Supply, but the other was transferred to the Board of Trade.

Mr. McKinlay

What is the position of an hon. Member who accepts the advice of the responsible officer and is later told that the officer was wrong and that the Question should not go to the Minister to whom he said it should go, but should go back to the Minister to whom the Question was originally addressed, and in the process finds itself separated from another Question by the hon. Member by 13 other Questions?

Mr. Speaker

That is rather too complicated for me to answer offhand. If I have notice of it, I may be able to give a better answer.