HC Deb 29 March 1965 vol 709 c1198

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

40. Mr. Box

To ask the Minister of Health what considerations he took into account when deciding to replace the present chairman of the Welsh Hospital Board.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Donald Box.

Mr. Michael Foot

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Apparently, the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Box) is not here to ask his Question. Can you tell the House whether there was any indication given by the hon. Gentleman that he would not be here? Is it not most undesirable for a Question to be put on the Order Paper designed for the purpose of attacking the newly appointed chairman of the Welsh Hospital Board and then for the hon. Gentleman not to be present in the House to put it?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member is, alas, under no obligation to tell us whether or not he would be here. I should not like to institute any arrangement of that kind—my desk would really be terribly loaded today—nor do I think it necessarily follows, with respect, that the Question constitutes what the hon. Gentleman says it does. But I must not get into the realms of argument.