§ Mr. LubbockOn a point of order. 1 notice, Mr. Speaker, that Questions Nos. 60, 61 and 65 today have been taken with earlier Questions on the Order Paper. I seem to recall that at one time you stated it as your policy that Questions put down late and, therefore, appearing as high numbers should not be taken with Questions appearing earlier on the Order Paper, so as not to pre-empt hon. Members' Questions when they happen to have put down, say, Questions Nos. 40 and 41.
It seems to me that the rule has been modified by the Board of Trade. I do not know whether it has been modified by any other Departments. I wonder, Mr. Speaker, although I have no personal interest in the matter this afternoon, whether you could renew the advice you gave earlier to Ministers not to take Questions which appear towards the end of the list with earlier Questions.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member has raised an interesting point. He can be sure that the Chair is aware of the 424 factor, which he has mentioned several times in the House, that to take late-numbered Questions might pre-empt somebody who has taken the trouble to put down a Question early and prevent him from having the opportunity to ask a supplementary question.
I watch all that. I have to decide whether, say, Question No. 60 happens to be really late. There are occasions when for any Minister more than 60 Questions are put down at the very first opportunity. I am, however, aware of the problem and I watch it all the time. It does not automatically follow that if a Minister ties up Question No. 30 with, say, Question No. 90, I shall invite a supplementary question on the latter.