HC Deb 05 March 1958 vol 583 cc1171-2
Mr. Mellish

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask for your help and guidance? A short time ago the Minister of Health announced that he had taken certain decisions on the salaries and conditions of National Health Service workers. Apropos of this, I put down two Questions to the Prime Minister, asking the right hon. Gentleman to intervene. Those Questions passed the Table because they were in order, but I have since had a letter from the Prime Minister's office stating that they will not be answered by him and that they must be answered by the Minister of Health.

My point is that those Questions cannot be answered by the Minister of Health. He has already replied, since they are his decisions. I was asking the Prime Minister to take action and now I am told that he will not answer the Questions. What does a back bencher do to get a Prime Minister to answer a Question?

Mr. Speaker

I find it difficult to advise the hon. Member. As I have said frequently in the House, the transferring of Questions is not a matter over which I have any control; it is entirely one for Ministers. There is nothing I can do about it.

Mr. Mellish

With respect, Sir, cannot we have a ruling? Otherwise, a back bencher has no protection. If a Minister will not answer Questions, what can one do? It is making democracy a farce.

Mr. Speaker

It is entirely a question of the responsibility of various Ministers. They are the judges of that, not me.

Mr. M. Stewart

Further to that point of order, Sir. Would it be in order for my hon. Friend to ask the Prime Minister whether he would dismiss the Minister in question? A Question of that kind could not be transferred to anyone else.

Mr. Speaker

I do not think that that would be in order.