HC Deb 02 May 1966 vol 727 cc1236-8
Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Oldham, East (Mr. Mapp) wished to raise a point of order.

Mr. Mapp

The point of order which I sought to raise earlier and which I now seek to raise concerns Question No. 41. I seek to raise this matter in relation to the importance of Question Time. I acknowledge that the Question is technically correct and that the Minister of Public Building and Works has responsibility for this little footpath in some part of London. But I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker, because this is a matter of such extremely minute importance and in order oniv, technically, because the Minister of Public Building and Works happens to have authority in this field. I ask whether a subject of this kind should not be ventilated through correspondence with the Minister and that the decision should be allowed to rest. Possibly a little guidance, or maybe a kind word from you, Mr. Speaker. would indicate to all of us that there is a time and an opportunity for all things and also a time and opportunity when issues of this kind should not be raised.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member has addressed a point of order to me which is not really a point of order at all. It would be impossible for Mr. Speaker to hope that kind words and guidance from him could have any effect on his 629 colleagues. We can rule only on Order. The Table can rule only on Order. Judgment, discretion and the magnitude or the triviality of a Question is a matter for the hon. Member himself. But I am certain that the House will note the observation which the hon. Member for Oldham, East made.

Several Hon. Members

rose——

Mr. Hector Hughes

On a point of order.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The fact that the hon. and learned Member seeks to raise a point of order does not mean that he is called until in fact I call him. Mr. Gordon Campbell.

Mr. G. Campbell

On a point of order. May I respectfully congratulate you, Mr. Speaker on the timing of Questions today which has resulted in every single oral Question being taken.

Mr. Hector Hughes

On a point of order. I wish to raise a point of order following a point or order raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, East (Mr. Mapp) of a slightly different character but relevant to the same line of thought. I refer to Question No. 49. [Laughter.] My mathematics are astray. It was question No. 47 concerning meals for visitors. I venture to seek your guidance on whether that is not a matter on which the hon. Member—the same hon. Member, the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Robert Cooke)—could have got his information in other ways.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I hope that we are not going to start using the valuable time of the House for pursuing inquests into the kind of Question which has appeared on the Order Paper. If Ques- tions are in order, they are accepted. If they were not in order, they would not be on the Order Paper.