§ 45. Miss Vickersasked the Lord Privy Seal, in view of the fact that the Secretary of State for Defence now answers Questions which were previously answered on four separate occasions, and that the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies and the Secretary of State for Education and Science answer Questions previously answered on two separate occasions, whether he will make arrangements for these Ministers to answer Questions more frequently.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd)The order of Questions is reviewed at intervals but I should prefer not to commit myself to any further change until we have a little more experience of the new order, recently introduced. This is in the nature of an experiment with the aim, which I hope will be generally welcome, of ensuring that all Departments are reached for Questions as frequently as possible.
§ Miss VickersI do not think that it is a very satisfactory Answer, because the Secretary of State for Defence now answers for four different Ministries. For instance, instead of having Questions on a Wednesday to the Admiralty we have to wait for the turn of the Secretary of State for Defence. As the Service Departments, in particular, take a long time to answer letters, we should have an opportunity more often to ask Questions for oral answer.
LloydIn fact it has not worked out so badly, because the Secretary of State for Defence was reached both on Wednesday, 15th April, and on Wednesday, 22nd April, and Questions were answered. The point is to have the Ministries revolve as quickly as possible. I have gone into the matter very carefully, but my mind is not closed to change and I will discuss the matter through the usual channels if a change is generally wanted.
§ Mr. W. HamiltonWhen the right hon. and learned Gentleman is considering this, will he remember that the Secretary of State for Scotland, who appears only once, answers for at least a dozen Departments.
§ Mr. LloydThe advantage of the new system is seen from the fact that the Secretary of State for Scotland answered Questions on 22nd April and also on 29th April, which is better than under the old system.
§ Mr. RankinWhen the right hon. and learned Gentleman is considering this matter will he also consider the position of the Chairman of the Kitchen Committee. He is at Question No. 45 on Mondays, and that happens to be a particularly busy Question day, with the result that he is almost out of reach. I have had a Question for answer by him which has been on the Order Paper for three weeks and which has not yet been reached. Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider bringing him down to Question No. 40 so that there is a chance of Members putting Questions to him?
§ Mr. LloydI will certainly consider the position of anyone who has Question No. 45, for I have some sympathy with him.