HC Deb 03 June 1965 vol 713 cc1956-7
Mr. William Hamilton

On a point of order. The House will have noted that only three of the Questions to the Prime Minister have been answered. May I appeal to you, Mr. Speaker, to be much more ruthless in your calling of hon. Members for supplementary questions, as another 10 Questions to the Prime Minister today have no prospect of getting oral answers for at least another month?

Mr. Speaker

Before he makes his request on supplementary questions, I hope that the hon. Gentleman will look at HANSARD to see how the time was really occupied. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] That is not directed at either side of the House. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] No, it is not. It is no good desiring the Chair to help the House to get on with Questions unless the House will help the Chair. I desire help with Question Time from both sides of the House.

Mr. Hamilton

Further to that point of order. May I draw your attention to the fact, Mr. Speaker, that it was four minutes past quarter past three before the Prime Minister got up to answer his first Question, directly because further supplementary questions were invited from the Opposition side of the House?

Mr. Speaker

If the hon. Member wishes to criticise the conduct of the Chair, he must take proper steps. On that matter he will have noted that more than one Question was answered together just at the point of 3.15, which affected the matter of which he has spoken.

Mr. Steele

Further to that point of order. Is not this a clear indication of the concern of the House about Questions, which previously led it to ask the Select Committee on Procedure urgently to consider the problem of Questions? Is it not unfair to the Committee, which did its job very quickly and which has reported, that its Report should not yet have been considered, because it not only cave advice to Members, but made suggestions which would be helpful to you, Mr. Speaker, in dealing with this matter? Ought not the House, through you, to indicate to the usual channels that this matter should be treated urgently?

Mr. Speaker

Lamentably, although I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, I can only refer him to the answer which I gave to him on a point of order yesterday.