HC Deb 14 April 1948 vol 449 cc977-8

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of, Mr. C. S. TAYLOR:

66. To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the serious breakdown of the telephone service affecting the business section of Brentford, Middlesex; and what steps are being taken to overcome the long delay in remedying the defect which is causing inconvenience and hardship to the local community.

Mr. Francis Noel-Baker

May I ask for your guidance, Sir, in regard to Question No. 66, which, you will observe, relates to my constituency? In point of fact, this was a matter which I had already taken up with the Postmaster-General, but I wish to ask you whether it is not the normal procedure, if any hon. Member asks a Question about a purely local matter, to inform the hon. Member concerned?

Mr. Speaker

I understand that the hon. Member would like that Question asked, but the time for asking Questions is finished. The only person who could, if he wished, answer the Question would be the Minister, who could answer it by leave, but that is unusual.

Mr. Noel-Baker

With great respect, that was not the point to which I was drawing your attention. There is a Question on the Order Paper which has been put clown by the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. C. S. Taylor) and which relates to a local matter concerning my constituency. I was asking whether it is not the normal procedure in such cases for an hon. Member to consult the hon. Member concerned before putting down a Question?

Mr. Speaker

I do not think that that is a point of Order upon which I can rule. It is perfectly true that hon. Members on one side do not ask Questions about a constituency of an hon. Member on the same side of the House; but I have known it happen that Questions have been asked about an hon. Member's constituency by an hon. Member who did not belong to the same party. As a general rule, one does not do that more often than is necessary.