HC Deb 15 July 1943 vol 391 cc371-2
Mr. Silverman

On a point of Order. On the first Sitting Day this week I gave notice at the Table that I would ask a starred Question to-day of the Minister of Pensions. The Question referred to matters which may be in Debate on the first Sitting Day in the next series of Sittings, and I was therefore anxious to have the answer to-day. I marked the Question for answer on the third Sitting Day, meaning, of course, the third Sitting Day of this week, but by some misapprehension at the Table it appears to have been put down for the third Sitting Day of the next series of Sittings, and therefore does not appear on the Order Paper to-day. I want to ask whether, since I gave the requisite two days' notice to-the Minister, I may have the Question treated now as though it had been a starred Question on to-day's Paper which has not been reached, so that I may have the answer given to me in time for the purpose for which I wanted to use it?

Mr. Speaker

I think it would be breaking the Rule to have the answer specially given to-day. We are sitting to-morrow, and therefore the answer could be circulated.

Mr. Silverman

But I understood from the statement made last week that the extra Sitting Day this week would not be a day on which Questions would be answered.

Mr. Speaker

That referred to starred Questions, but not to unstarred.

Mr. Higgs

On a point of Order. Question 85 upon the Paper to-day was originally addressed to the Prime Minister, but has been transferred to the Minister of Production, and as it concerns nine Ministers, how is it possible for the Minister of Production to reply?

Mr. Speaker

One cannot put down a Question to the Prime Minister and not expect it to be transferred to the Minister who is most likely to be able to give an answer.