HC Deb 14 March 1961 vol 636 cc1193-4

At the end of Questions—

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. J. T. Price) was good enough not to hold up Question Time by deferring a point of order which he wished to raise with me. Does he wish to raise it now?

Mr. J. T. Price

Yes, Mr. Speaker. I referred to Question No. 26, because, in my opinion, it raises a matter affecting the day-to-day administration of the British Transport Commission.

We have frequently been advised, when trying to raise Questions relating to the Transport Commission, either on behalf of constituents or of bodies in our constituencies, that they could not be raised under the rules of our procedure because they concerned day-to-day administration.

In my submission, Question No. 26 is tabled in such a way as to refer to the use and development of land in the possession of the Commission. As everybody knows, access to development land is one of the most important factors sought after by speculators. I wish to know how far it is competent for Questions such as this, which obviously refer to day-to-day administration and the use of land by the Commission, can be regarded as being in order when they affect fundamental decisions of development, whereas other hon. Members are denied the opportunity of tabling Questions, which they think are equally important, on the ground that they affect the day-to-day running of the railways.

Mr. Speaker

I hope that the hon. Member and other hon. Members who want to put down Questions will refer them to me if they encounter opposition at the Table. I do not want to give a general Ruling "off the cuff" in this case, but the hon. Member will remember that usually our difficulty is that somebody asks the Minister of Transport about a day-to-day management matter of the Commission. Question No. 26 is addressed to a different matter, and I should like to consider whether what the hon. Member has put to me has any relevance in this context. I would rather not do so now, unless the House wishes me to do so.

Mr. Price

I am obliged to you, Mr. Speaker, for those more or less spontaneous references to the matter before you give your Ruling. May I submit that you should consider my submission that this is obviously a palpable device to get round the rules of order? We might compliment the hon. Member for Paddington, South (Mr. R. Allan) on his ingenuity, but I still think that it is a breach of the rules of order.

Mr. Speaker

I hear what the hon. Gentleman says and make no observation about it if I am to consider the matter further.