§ The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of MR. MITCHISON:
§ 82. To ask the Minister of Supply whether he will now relax the present system of steel allocation.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussWith your permission, Mr. Speaker, I would like to answer Question No. 82——
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydOn a point of order. Mr. Speaker, we would be glad to hear the answer to Question No. 82 in due course, but as the right hon. Gentleman said, "With the permission of the House," are we in order in refusing that permission, as he will not answer Question No. 81?
§ Mr. SpeakerNo, I think not, because this is not a matter for the permission of the House. A Question which is answered out of order is a matter of permission by me. If the Minister considers it in the public interest that a Question should be answered, he asks my permission. It is my permission, and not the permission of the House.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydFurther to that point of order. What remedy have we, then—[HON. MEMBERS: "No remedy."]—if we believe that taxpayers, the producers of motor cars and the motor trade are penalised. What remedy have we, Mr. Speaker—[HON. MEMBERS: "No 1658 remedy."]—to bring home to the Minister that this is a matter of public duty?
§ Mr. SpeakerI had better answer this question first, before further points of order are raised. So far as I am concerned there is no remedy. Here is a Question which, in due course, will be answered. The answer will come as the answer to a Written Question. Hon. Members can then study the answer, and no doubt they will have an opportunity of putting down further Questions.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydOn a point of order—[Interruption]——
§ Mr. SpeakerThis is a point of order by the hon. Gentleman, and I want to hear it.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydCould not the answer to Question No. 82 come round in the same way?
§ Mr. SpeakerNo, because Question No. 82 is, in the opinion of the Minister, a matter of public interest—in the opinion of the Minister, not in the opinion of one of the hon. Members of the House. I gave the Minister permission to answer this Question, supposing it was not reached, and I adhere to that permission.
§ Mr. W. FletcherIf the Minister asks your permission, Sir, to answer Question No. 81, would it be given?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not a matter for me. It is entirely a matter for the Minister.
§ Mr. Mitchison rose——
§ Mr. AsshetonWould the Minister do the courtesy to the House of asking your permission to answer Question No. 81, Sir?
§ Mr. MitchisonWith very great respect, Sir, unless my ears deceived me I heard you call the next Question, and I accordingly asked it in the usual course of Questions. Therefore, with very great respect, I cannot see that any question of your leave or the leave of the House arises. My Question was called and asked in the ordinary course of Business.
§ Mr. StraussI propose to answer Question No. 82——
§ Mr. John HyndAs a right hon. Gentleman on the Bench opposite deliberately said that there was no intention of allowing the Minister to answer the Question in its proper order on the Order Paper, because one of their hon. Members was not present, is there any remedy against that situation?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe right hon. Gentleman can say anything he likes. The remedy is in my hands, surely.
§ Mr. Strauss rose——
§ Mr. StraussThe answer to Question No. 82 is: The Government has now completed its review of the steel distribution scheme—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question No. 81."]—and has decided—[HON. Members: "Question No. 81."]——
§ Mr. SpeakerPerhaps I might point out to the House that if they will not allow the Minister to speak I, of course, have the remedy in my hands. This is merely cutting down the time for what I believe is an important Debate in Committee, which is to follow. If we have to suspend or adjourn for a quarter of an hour to allow tempers to cool a little it will be taking time out of that Debate.
§ Captain CrookshankWould not it be perfectly simple, Sir, if the Minister would answer Question No. 81?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not a matter for me, it is entirely a matter for the Minister.
§ Mr. StraussAs I was saying, Sir, the Government has now completed its review of the steel distribution scheme and has decided that, with the exception of sheet and tinplate, supplies of which are not yet adequate——
§ Mr. S. SilvermanOn a point of order. May I draw your attention, Sir, to the fact that there are a great many hon. Members on this side of the House who would like to hear what the Minister has to say. If the behaviour of the Opposition prevents us from hearing him, something ought to be done about it.
Air-Commodore HarveyFurther to that point of order. As the Minister seems reluctant to answer Question No. 81—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—and as he also refuses to answer my supplementary question—[Interruption.]——
§ Mr. DribergMr. Speaker, cannot you do something to keep the hooligans opposite in order?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Do not let us follow the Continental system and be provocative.
Air-Commodore HarveyTo continue my point of order. As the Minister seems reluctant, and probably frightened, to answer Question No. 81, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at a very early date.
§ Mr. StraussThe answer to Question No. 82 is: The Government has now completed its review of the steel distribution scheme and has decided that, with the exception of sheet and tinplate, supplies of which are not yet adequate, the distribution of steel need no longer be subject to allocation or licence. Such regulation of exports of steel as may still be necessary will be effected by administrative arrangements between the Government and the steel industry. The similar administrative arrangements which now exist for regulating the distribution in the United Kingdom of certain types of tubes and pipes will continue for the time being. We will also keep under review the distribution of other types of steel so that should any shortage again develop special arrangements can be made for dealing with the situation.
Statistics of the distribution of steel deliveries to the various steel consuming industries will be maintained, without burden to the consumers, simply by requiring them to quote on their orders for steel an indication of their industrial classification. Order to give effect to these changes will be laid on the Table of the House within a few days.
§ Mr. NabarroCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether that includes the decontrol of steel prices which have been controlled heretofore, or only to the tonnage of steel allocated?
§ Mr. StraussOnly allocations. This does not affect our price regulations.