§ 46. Mr. Keelingasked the Prime Minister whether, as an inducement to hon. Members to ask for written answers to Questions, he will arrange for a written answer to be issued not later than the day on which an oral answer would have been given if asked for.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonThe present instructions to Departments, which are based upon the second Report of the Select Committee on Procedure, are that Questions for written answer should be answered within seven days, but that every effort should be made to answer them more speedily. To adopt the hon. Member's suggestion would add considerably to the pressure on Ministers and Departments, and in cases where considerable research is needed, it might be impossible to give a final answer within the period proposed. In any event, I should have thought that the present arrangements were adequate in the great majority of cases. It is, I think, recognised that where there is real urgency there is no alternative to putting down a Question for oral answer.
§ Mr. KeelingBut does the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate that it is the uncertainty about the date when written Questions will be answered which promotes orality, and that if he would give an 1056 unqualified "Yes" to my question, the number of oral Questions would be considerably diminished?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe trouble with the hon. Gentleman is that he has a passion for bureaucratic rigidity. He really must allow for the human element in this business. We will do our very best, and I think that the proposition advanced by the Government is not unreasonable in all the circumstances.
§ Mr. ChurchillAre we to have a discussion, at any time, on adding a quarter-of-an-hour to Question time for oral Questions? Is anything in prospect with regard to that?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am afraid not, Sir.