HC Deb 10 December 1959 vol 615 cc743-4

The following Questions stood upon the Order Paper:

47. Mr. BIGGS-DAVISION

To ask the Prime Minister what preparations are to be made for the celebration of the tercentenary of the restoration of the monarchy in the person of King Charles the Second.

48. Mr. ARBUTHNOT

To ask the Prime Minister what plans Her Majesty's Government has in mind to celebrate the tercentenary of the landing of King Charles the Second at Dover, leading to the restoration of the monarchy.

Mr. C. Pannell

On a point of order. In view of the high constitutional importance of Questions Nos. 47 and 48, cannot the Prime Minister be given permission to answer them, Mr. Speaker? Will he bear in mind the character of the merry Monarch and suspend the Street Offences Act?

Mr. Speaker

The suspension of the Street Offences Act does not concern the rules of order of the House. I have received no request from the Prime Minister to be permitted to answer those Questions.

The Prime Minister

If the Questions are not deferred, I agree that an Answer should be given. I have given a good deal of thought to the matter. I did not think it right to ask for special permission to answer now. I think that it is out of order for me to do so at this stage. I think it better to wait until the Answer appears later. In any event, the hon. Member has been very successful; he has put his supplementary without the Questions being asked.