HC Deb 14 February 1951 vol 484 c406
Mr. Fenner Brockway

On a point of order. A month ago, Sir, I asked you whether I could place a Private Notice Question in the hands of a Minister on the subject of the deportation of Mr. Ignatius Musazi from Uganda. Your advice was to place it on the Order Paper by way of an ordinary Question. I respected and accepted that advice. I have now done so for three weeks and the Question has not been reached. My point of order is whether Questions on the Order Paper can be placed in the order in which notice of them is given?

Mr. Speaker

I do not quite understand the hon. Member. The Minister, if he thinks the Question is important, and if he so chooses, can ask leave to answer it after Question Time. Otherwise, one cannot alter the order of Questions; they must take their ordinary turn. Because I did not allow the hon. Member's Question as a Private Notice Question, that cannot give it preference over other Questions.

Mr. Fenner Brockway

I appreciate that, Sir. My point of order was as to whether the order of appearance of Questions on the Order Paper should not be the order in which they were given to the Clerks at the Table?

Mr. Speaker

As far as I know, the order in which they appear on the Order Paper is the order in which they are received by the Table. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] As far as I know. If there is any evidence to the contrary, I shall be glad to look into it.