§ Miss BurtonOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I raise with you a question affecting the rights of Private Members? On the Order Paper for today is the following Question, not for Oral answer, standing in my name:
To ask the Minister of National Insurance whether he has considered the letter from the national general secretary of the Old-Age Pensioners Association concerning the take-up of rationed foods; and what reply has been sent.I put this Question down previously to the Minister of Food. May I say at once that I am not raising with you the question of a Minister transferring a Question because I know he has the power to do that. I tabled this Question to the Minister of Food on 4th February. On 5th February it appeared on the Notices for the Day for the Minister of Food for 11th February. On 11th February the Minister would have answered that Question as No. 47, but it was the first one not to be reached. The answer was in an envelope awaiting me if I had not transferred it. On 12th February I was informed that the Minister had transferred the Question. Is it in order, when an hon. Member has a Question on the Order Paper for one week and the Minister has been willing to answer it, for it suddenly to be transferred? Has 1242 the Member any redress when the Question has been on the Paper for that length of time?
§ Mr. SpeakerI have frequently ruled that the transfer of Questions is no responsibility of mine. It is the responsibility of Ministers to decide. If I understood the hon. Member aright, I gather that her complaint is that there was an unreasonable delay in transferring the Question. Am I correct?
§ Miss BurtonYes, Sir.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe only remedy is that Ministers should take note of the complaint of the hon. Lady and take such action as they can, if they transfer Questions, to do so as quickly as possible so that no further cause for complaints of this nature shall arise.
§ Miss BurtonWith further reference to that point of order, Mr. Speaker, may I ask your guidance on this point? In the letter mentioned in my Question there were 20 items, of which 15 referred to food. Have I any redress in suggesting that the Question is for the Minister of Food, since 15 out of 20 items referred to the Department of the Minister of Food and not to that of the Minister of National Insurance? That is the burden of my complaint.
§ Mr. SpeakerBefore I answer that, I should have to see the Question. If the hon. Lady will provide me with the facts, I will try to consider the matter.
§ Mr. SorensenMay I point out to you, Mr. Speaker, with all respect, that you called upon me to ask my Question, No. 47. What happens when you call an hon. Member and someone else intervenes?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member must excuse me. I am afraid that we have passed beyond Question time and I should be breaking the Standing Order if I allowed the hon. Member to ask it now.
§ Mr. SorensenWhat can I do then?
§ Mr. SpeakerPut it down on the Order Paper again.