HC Deb 25 October 1960 vol 627 c2122
Mr. P. Williams

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I have given you written notice in the case of the missing Question. I wonder whether you can help in this matter. About a month ago I tabled a Question to the Secretary of State for the Colonies about a speech made in Nairobi by Lord Mountbatten.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman warned me that he wished to raise this matter, and I desire to deal with it, but would it not be equally convenient for the hon. Gentleman to raise it at the end of Questions and not now? There is nothing that I can do to get his Question into a position on the Order Paper today where it would be likely to be reached. The hon. Gentleman would therefore be as well off if I answered at the end of Questions instead of now.

Mr. Williams

The suggestion I wish to put is that, as it appears that a mistake has been made by the Table, it might be possible for the Question to be taken on the Order Paper today, and if you were to give such a decision on this point the Colonial Secretary could be warned in time to have his Answer ready.

Mr. Speaker

I should like to give a decision in due course, but were we to take more time to discuss this now, the Question, if put on the Order Paper, would not be reached. At least that is the reasonable probability. I could not do what the hon. Gentleman is asking me to do in any case. I have not the power to do it. I will explain what happened to the hon. Gentleman later.