§ Captain John CrowderOn a point of Order. Can you tell us, Mr. Speaker, whether instructions have been given to the Clerks at the Table not to accept Questions on the day to day working of the railways and the Coal Board, or whether it is to be left to the Minister to say whether he will not answer such Questions?.
§ Mr. SpeakerDuring the war, the custom was that the Minister indicated to the Table that certain Questions would not be answered. Those Questions, therefore, were not put down. The Ministry of Information, for instance, did not answer Questions on administration during the war.
§ Sir W. SmithersAre we now to understand, Sir, that the Minister is a dictator, and the decider of the rights of the House of Commons?
§ Mr. DribergIs it not the case that before Christmas my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House made a statement on this whole question, and indicated that it might be considered further, possibly in a Debate, or in a statement by you, Sir?
§ Mr. SpeakerThis is a matter on which I have no authority whatsoever, but I gather that in the near future we may have a Debate upon it, in which case Members will no doubt be able to express their views.
§ Colonel RopnerI always understood, Mr. Speaker, that the Clerks at the Table acted on your instructions. The position at the moment is that the Minister is able to instruct the Clerks as to what Questions he is, or is not, prepared to answer. We wish to submit to you, Sir, that Questions should be allowed, and that it should be for the Minister to refuse to answer with the full knowledge of the House that the Question has been asked?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Minister says to the Clerks at the Table, "I have no responsibility for this; this is a matter of administration by the Board, and I therefore disclaim responsibility." That being so, a Question cannot be put down about it.
§ Lieut.-Commander BraithwaiteCould you not help the House, Sir, in this way? A Question having been permitted, and put down, and the Minister having given a reply, are we entitled to give notice to raise the matter on the Adjournment if we are not satisfied with the reply?
§ Mr. SpeakerCertainly.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterMight there be made available to the House the information which you have just given, Sir, and also the subjects on which the Minister is prepared to answer? The House could then know what Questions the Minister purports to answer.
§ Mr. BarnesOn a point of explanation: If there is any allegation that I have attempted to give instructions to the Clerks, I deny that. The fact that there are Questions on the Order Paper today which I propose to refer to the Transport Commission makes that position quite clear.
§ Colonel RopnerThen I give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.