§ Mr. Hector HughesOn a point of order. May I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker? We have had today a most startling example of the invasion of private Members' time, and the right of hon. Members to ask Questions, by Ministers making long answers which preclude the putting of Questions which appear later on the list on the Order Paper. As your Lordship—[Laughter]—as you, Mr. Speaker, will see, we have got no further than the early 30s in the Questions. That is due to the fact that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs answered at inordinate length Questions which should have been the subject of a statement after Questions.
My submission, with the greatest respect, is that it would be in the interest of the House if you would make some kind of statement to Ministers on the ground that Answers to Questions which are likely to take a long time should be deferred until the end of Questions so that those Questions which are lower down the list than the 30s may be put and answered. I have no personal interest in this today but hon. Members ought to have an opportunity of putting their Questions.
§ Mr. DribergFurther to that point of order. As the Leader of the House is here, would you be good enough Mr. Speaker, to ask him to circularise Ministers with that advice to make these very long statements at the end of Questions, whether they are in reply to Questions on the Order Paper or not, because that is often done? Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to say whether he will consider making a statement tomorrow on the possibility of an early debate on the Congo—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member cannot ask a question of the Minister now. This arises out of a point of order. I am obliged to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes). The considerations which he has mentioned are well known to the House. I am sure that what he was saying will have been listened to with suitable attention by those concerned.