HC Deb 12 June 1947 vol 438 cc1321-2 The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. Bossom: 26. To ask the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal Great Britain is arranging to purchase from the U.S.A.; and what is the price per ton that is being paid for this.
Mr. Henderson Stewart

On a point of Order. As the hon. Gentleman the Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom) is not here to ask the Question which you have just called, and as I asked a supplementary seeking this information just now, is it not right that the Minister should answer it?

Mr. Speaker

If an hon. Member is not here to ask a Question I am afraid it cannot be asked.

Mr. W. Fletcher

Further to that point of Order. As the Minister stated definitely that he would deal later with the supplementary of the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart) when we reached this Question, cannot he now answer it?

Mr. Speaker

We cannot have a Question answered that is not asked.

Mr. Stewart

It was only the other day, was it not, that a Minister answered at the end of Questions a Question which had been passed by? May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, if it would not be fitting that the Minister should take that course on this occasion?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a matter for me at all.

At the end of Questions:

Mr. Henderson Stewart

On a point of Order. May I ask the Leader of the House if he will now invite the Minister of Fuel and Power to make his promised statement on the price to be paid for imported American coal?

The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

I do not think it is for me to invite Ministers to answer particular questions. The fact is that the hon. Member who put down the Question was not here, and it would really be rather unusual for a Minister to reply in those circumstances.

Mr. Stewart

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recollect that the Minister of Fuel and Power, in answer to my supplementary question, indicated that he intended to make a statement, and further that his statement about the importation of American coal is quite incomplete unless the House knows what the price is going to be.

Mr. Speaker

If the hon. Member rose to a point of Order, it should be addressed to me and I must deal with it. The blame lies upon the hon. Member who was not here when the Question was called. We cannot expect the Minister to look round to see whether a Member is here; he is quite entitled to say that he has a Question down and is going to answer it. It will, of course, be answered in due course in HANSARD.