HC Deb 14 October 1946 vol 427 cc616-7
Mr. De la Bère

May I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker? There are 25 Questions on the Order Paper addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, not one of which has been reached—the same thing very nearly happened last week—owing to the great deal of detail in Questions relating to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. May I respectfully ask for your assistance in future, in view of the great importance of food in the country, and the great interest which is taken in this subject in this honourable House?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member can rest assured that he will always have my sympathy and assistance in getting through as many Questions as possible on the Order Paper.

Sir I. Fraser

Could not Questions to the Minister of Agriculture some days be put first on the Order Paper?

Mr. Speaker

I do not arrange these things. They are done through the usual channels.

Mr. Stanley

May I be allowed to appeal to the Leader of the House on this question? As he knows, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is put into a privileged position every day of the week—his Questions are reached every single day that Parliament meets. Would it not be better that he should take his turn with the other Ministers, and so give us a chance to get to these other very important Questions?

Mr. H. Morrison

The right hon. Gentleman is on a fair point. We are giving consideration to the very point he has raised with a view to a change in the new Session. My hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has no objections.