§ Q9. Sir F. Bennettasked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Lord President of the Council in Birmingham on 28th January about devaluation represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to similar Questions on 20th February.—[Vol. 759, c. 76.]
§ Sir F. BennettThe Prime Minister will recall that that Answer was, "Yes, Sir". Could he now explain to the House how even his devious mind can possibly reconcile—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—how even his devious mind—[HON. MEMBERS "Withdraw."]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Sir Frederic Bennett.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Question time is going. Sir Frederic Bennett.
§ Mrs. Renée ShortIt is not the hon. Gentleman's turn anyway.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Sir Frederic Bennett.
§ Mr. John HallOn a point of order. I find it quite impossible—[Interruption.]—I find it quite impossible to hear what my hon. Friend is saying. Is it not possible to have conditions under which we can hear what is being said?
§ Mr. SpeakerWith respect to the hon. Gentleman, I should have thought that he was pointing out the obvious.
§ Sir F. BennettCan the Prime Minister explain how even his devious mind—[HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw."]—can reconcile a setback with a giant stride forward? [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The House is not doing itself any good at all.
§ Mr. BishopOn a point of order. I did not hear you call Question No. Q8, Mr. Speaker, which is in my name.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I apologise. I will put the matter right in a moment, I hope.
§ Sir F. BennettCan the Prime Minister now indicate—[Interruption.] May I have the Prime Minister's attention? [HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw."] On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerI hope that the House will take note of what I am saying. We all believe in Parliament. This is not helping Parliament.
§ Sir F. BennettCan the Prime Minister indicate—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. ManuelOn a point of order. May I ask for your advice, Mr. Speaker? Through some inadvertence, Question No. Q8 was not called. Question Time has now ended. If Question No. Q8 had been called, the hon. Member for Torquay (Sir F. Bennett) would not have been called and the House would not have been subjected to his rude remarks.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have already taken the blame for failing to call Question No. Q8, but I must just finish with Question No. Q9.
§ Sir F. BennettI am trying very hard, Mr. Speaker. Can the Prime Minister indicate—
§ Mr. RoseFurther to the point of order. Earlier this afternoon, when a Question was called, the Leader of the Opposition was called and my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) was made to sit down. The same thing has happened. My hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop) was on his feet for at least two or three minutes. As he was not called, I would ask you, Mr. Speaker, to reconsider the matter.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Chair is aware of all the circumstances.
§ Sir F. BennettCan the Prime Minister now indicate how even his devious mind—[HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw."—can reconcile a setback with a giant stride forward? [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Hon. Members must listen to questions to which they object.
§ The Prime MinisterI regret that I did not hear the hon. Gentleman's question. I very much hope that I shall be allowed to hear it.
§ Sir F. BennettIf the Prime Minister did not hear it, it certainly was not my fault. Can he now indicate how even his devious mind can reconcile a setback with a giant stride forward?
§ The Prime MinisterI said in the reply to the previous Question which the hon. Gentleman quoted and to which I referred today that the Answer was "Yes", because this statement did not set out to give any new policy. It began by referring to the fact that it was a personal statement. Apart from that, it contained a certain degree of oratorical flourish which was not inappropriate on such an occasion.
§ Mr. SpeakerI understand now that I did indeed call the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop). I call him now.