HC Deb 27 November 1968 vol 774 cc500-1
Mr. Marten

On a point of order This point concerns Question Time, Mr. Speaker, and I think that this is the proper moment to raise it. The other day, I asked the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House if we could see the right hon. Lady the Paymaster-General at the Dispatch Box more often, and he said that she would appear as often as any other Ministers. But she has been here today since 3.25 only and has answered only three Questions, all of them important. Would it be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to consider this again, since it is for back benchers that I am asking for the right to question the right hon. Lady.

Mr. Speaker

This is rather a matter for questions at business time on Thursdays, I think.

Sir Harmar Nicholls

On a point of order—

Mr. Gordon Campbell

On a point of order—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Mr. Speaker cannot take two points of order from two hon. Members at the same time.

Sir Harmar Nicholls

I wondered how the title "Minister for the Civil Service" had found its way on to the Order Paper. I understood that the right hon. Lady is the Paymaster-General, and that she answers for the Civil Service, but the title "Minister for the Civil Service" is surely new. Is this in order on the Order Paper?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a matter for the Chair, but the hon. Baronet might refer to the Prime Minister's statement on this very issue when the matter was debated.

Mr. Barnes

On a point of order. I think that there is a serious point here, because the order of Questions sheet issued to hon. Members makes it clear that the Paymaster-General will answer Questions starting not later than Question No. 35, and there has been no indication, I think, that the Questions to my right hon. Friend would be grouped in the way that they have been, with the Civil Service ones first and those in her capacity as Paymaster-General second. Surely they should all be taken in the order that they are tabled by hon. Members.

Mr. Speaker

This is a point which the hon. Gentleman must take up with the Leader of the House, I think.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

On a point of order. May I give notice that I intend to raise this matter at business question time tomorrow, in view of the fact that the Paymaster-General is due only today to answer Questions throughout the whole period from the beginning of the Session until the Christmas Recess?

Mr. Speaker

It is an ultra-refinement to give notice that an hon. Member intends to raise something at business question time.