MOUNTVIEW TELEPHONE EXCHANGE (Hansard, 28 June 1951)

§ 81. Mr. GAMMANS,
—TO ask the Minister of Works if he will arrange to stop the pile-driver on the extension to the Mount-view Exchange from working on Sundays, in view of the annoyance caused to surrounding residents.

§ The Minister of Works (Mr. George Brown)
With permission, Sir, I will answer Question No. 81 and I should like to take the opportunity thus afforded—

§ Sir H. Williams
On a point of order. As the right hon. Gentleman asked for permission, may I ask whose permission has to be accorded?

§ Mr. Speaker
Certainly. I think if the hon. Member had been here at the end of Questions yesterday he would have heard me give my permission then. After all, this is an act of courtesy to the Opposition. That is why the right hon. Gentleman is doing it.

§ Mr. Churchill
On a point of order. Because a Minister has failed in his duty to be in attendance on the House for the 1583 answering of a particular Question, is that any reason why he should have the privilege of giving that answer after the end of Question time on another day?

§ Mr. Speaker
I should have thought that otherwise the right hon. Gentleman would have made a personal statement. I understand that the right hon. Gentleman wishes to apologise to the House. Surely we are gentlemen here, and we shall accept it.

§ Mr. Churchill
This was represented to us as the answer to a Question, but, Sir, of course, if the hon. Gentleman intends to make a personal statement and tender an apology for what I have no doubt was an unintended lapse, quite a different position is before the House.

§ Mr. Brown
I was, of course, just about to say that, but it was difficult to make myself heard above the noise. I apologise to you, Sir, to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) and to the House for my failure to be in my place when this Question was called yesterday.

§ Mr Churchill
The right hon. Gentleman is making a personal statement.

§ Mr. Brown
It was necessary on one Sunday to carry out piling work on the sire of the Mountview Exchange extension to prevent possible subsidence. The work has now been done, and no further Sunday working is contemplated. I welcome this opportunity of expressing my regret for the annoyance caused to residents in the neighbourhood of the site.

§ Sir H. Williams
On a point of order. How is it that a Question which was down yesterday and was not answered could appear on the Order Paper today, having regard to the Rules about the time of notice that has to be given?

§ Mr. Speaker
I told the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) that I would give special permission. After all, I was trying to protect an hon. Member who, I thought, had been—not badly—but unfairly treated. Surely I can adjust matters a little bit like that.

§ Mr. Gammans
May I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Works if he will accept from me—and I hope I speak for the whole House—our acceptance of his graceful apology?