§ Q7. Mr. Winterbottomasked the Prime Minister what arrangements have been made to enable hon. Members to be given oral Answers to Questions directed to the Minister responsible for the North -East.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on Tuesday to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) and the hon. Gentleman the Member for Middlesbrough, West (Dr. Bray).
§ Mr. WinterbottomDoes not the right hon. Gentleman understand that the serious situation in the north of England, and particularly in the northeast of England, warrants the presence of a Minister in this House to answer Parliamentary Questions from hon. Members on this problem?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the arrangements for answering Questions, which I explained, will be quite satisfactory. What is important, and I agree with what has been said, is the result.
§ Mr. DonnellyIs the Prime Minister aware that he himself came south for a job, and that certain circumstances may compel him to go north again very soon?
§ The Prime MinisterI was wondering when the hon. Member got up how long he had been thinking about a supplementary question. I really have known him to do better.