HC Deb 27 April 1966 vol 727 cc695-6
35. Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make arrangements to extend the time available to hon. Members wishing to ask Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Herbert Bowden)

No, Sir.

Mr. Taylor

Is it not quite scandalous that the Secretary of State probably will not be in a position to answer Questions until June? He is responsible in Scotland for subjects covered by seven Ministries in England. Will the Lord President consider allowing a quarter of an hour once a week before the Scottish Grand Committee upstairs for Scottish Questions?

Mr. Bowden

The idea of having Scottish Questions upstairs is attractive. I will look at that one. The Secretary of State for Scotland was at the top of the list immediately before the election. He is coming up the roster. He is likely to be reached before Whitsun, and will be at the top again afterwards.

Mr. William Hamilton

Since the Prime Minister last week suggested that the question of morning sittings might be considered, would it not be advisable to give the House additional facilities for questioning Ministers and in particular Scottish Ministers on mornings during the week?

Mr. Bowden

The Select Committee on Procedure is already looking at sittings of the House, and it might well look at that.

Mr. Steele

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, because there are so few Scottish Tory Members, it now requires a very big proportion of English Conservative Members to constitute the Grand Committee and that English Members might object to the Scottish Grand Committee meeting so often?

Mr. Bowden

That is another point that might be borne in mind. I have never known English Members keen to serve on the Scottish Grand Committee.

Mr. Noble

Will not the Lord President admit that the number of Questions answered in the last Parliament by the Secretary of State for Scotland was enormously fewer than in the past and that not only the number but the content of the Answers was very poor?

Sir G. Nabarro

And the quality.

Mr. Bowden

I could not accept that for one moment. It is simply that there are other Departments which attract more Questions.