Gaming Board (Chairman) (Hansard, 25 July 1968)

§ 59. Mr. KITSON
TO ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will announce the name of the Chairman of the Gaming Board.

§ Mr. Speaker
Mr. Kitson. Question No. 59.

Hon. Members
Where is the Minister?

§ Sir Knox Cunningham
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not disgraceful [Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. A point of order. Sir Knox Cunningham.

§ Sir Knox Cunningham
Mr. Speaker, is it not a disgrace that the Government have not got any Minister present to answer Questions in the House? What are the Whips doing about it? Why are they not here in their place?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. A further point of order. Mr. William Hamilton.

§ Mr. William Hamilton
On a point of order. Is it not also a disgrace that so many Conservative hon. Members are absent, including the hon. Member for Runcorn (Mr. Carlisle), the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. J. H. Osborn) and the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke).

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Hon. Members can read the Order Paper.

§ Mr. Moonman
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I should be grateful if the first point of order which was raised could 973 be repeated because we were at somewhat of a disadvantage in not having been able to hear it on this side of the House.

Hon. Members
Where are they?

§ Mr. William Hamilton
Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. A point of order. Mr. Kenneth Lewis.

§ Mr. Kenneth Lewis
On a point of order. Can we suspend the sitting of the House until such time as the Minister arrives and restart Questions at a quarter to four when he is available?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I answer the hon. Member. We cannot suspend the House; it is in a state of suspense at the moment. We cannot begin Questions again at a quarter to four. I have answered the hon. Member's two points.

Earl of Dalkeith
In view of the fact that the Prime Minister is supposed to be responsible for everything, could he not answer these Questions?

§ Dame Irene Ward
On a point of order. Could the Prime Minister—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. A point of order. Mr. Hugh Jenkins.

§ Mr. Hugh Jenkins
Could not some arrangement be made whereby the occasional hiatus, which is very largely due, not to any fault of the Government— [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—but to the absence of hon. Members, could be avoided?

§ Dame Irene Ward
I was about to ask whether the Prime Minister could arrange for the Leader of the House to come to deal with these Questions.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Questions to the Prime Minister.

§ Sir J. Langford-Holt
On a point of order. Will the Questions which have been omitted be answered after the Prime Minister has finished answering Questions?

§ Mr. Speaker
I have arranged that previously, but I do not know what will happen this time.