§ The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:
§ 59. Sir C. TAYLORTo ask the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what information he has about the ketch "Totland", which is missing in the English Channel with seven persons abroad; and why the search for this vessel has been abandoned.
§ Sir C. TaylorOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will recall that I tried to ask a Private Notice Question on Monday last about the ketch "Totland", which was reported missing somewhere near the mouth of the Thames Estuary with six of my constituents aboard. Although I submitted to Sir, that I thought it a matter of urgency, of public interest, and that that was the first available opportunity to ask the Question, you ruled that it was inadmissible.
1279 I therefore put the Question on the Order Paper today for answer by the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, under whose auspices the coastguards operate. I wonder whether, under these circumstances, and in view of the fact that six of my constituents may still be in peril, you would allow Question No. 59 to be answered?
Mr. SpeakerI am sorry I could not do that without breaking the rules. I am sorry for the hon. Member. He submitted a Private Notice Question to me addressed to the Air Ministry and, as the Air Ministry Questions came on today very early, I thought that there was not sufficient urgency in the Question as a Private Notice Question, to justify taking up the time of the House at the end of Questions. Now I find that it has been transferred to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. The hon. Member should have a look at the Written Reply to the Question and then he could come and see me about it.
§ Sir C. TaylorFurther to that point of order, Sir. There is a chance that these constituents of mine, six of them, including one girl, may still be surviving. In view of the tremendous grief in my constituency about this matter, could this Question not be answered, to set the minds of relatives at rest?