HC Deb 07 July 1948 vol 453 cc378-80
Mr. Henderson Stewart

On a point of Order. May I ask the Leader of the House whether he does not consider it the duty of the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the very serious situation which is still continuing in British Guiana, to make a public statement now to the House instead of circulating the answer to the Questions which have been asked?

Mr. Speaker

I object to these questions now. It is the responsibility of the Minister, if he chooses, to give the reply and nobody else's. If hon. Members are going to get up and say, "I want a reply to this," it is quite out of Order. The hon. Member may think that it is an important statement. It may be, but the responsibility is with the Minister and there should not be pressure by Members of Parliament.

Mr. Oliver Stanley

Are we to understand that the usual form, "By permission of the hon. Member, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT," means nothing, and that an hon. Member who objects to it being so circulated cannot have the answer given orally?

Mr. Speaker

The Minister said, "By permission of the hon. Member who asked the Question." The hon. Member had not put down a Question at all. He was—I do not know what the expression is—

Mr. Rankin

He missed the boat.

Mr. Speaker

If the hon. Member who had put the Question down had objected, there would have been something to be said, but for any hon. Member who has not put the Question down to get up and object is wrong.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Is not the expression which is used "By permission of the House"?

Mr. Speaker

It was "By permission of the hon. Member." The Minister is answering the hon. Member and not the House, although the House hears the answer.

Mr. S. Silverman

In any case if an hon. Member has the right to object to a

circulated answer instead of an oral answer, is not the right remedy to object at the time when the Question is called? I suggest that that remedy would not be exercised after Question hour has finished.

Mr. Speaker

About seven hon. Members had Questions down on the same subject, and not one of them objected.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

Is it not then in Order for me to invite—or to re-invite, as I have already done it—the Minister concerned to make a statement now?

Mr. Speaker

That is a very undesirable practice. We have had it several times. An hon. Member is very keen about his own Question. Lots of hon. Members can be quite keen about their own Questions. If they are all to get up after Questions and say, "Can I press the Minister to answer that?"—after all, it is the Minister's responsibility and nobody else's. We should carry on Question hour for I do not know how long by everybody asking for their own Questions to be answered. Personally, I deprecate that very strongly.