HC Deb 02 December 1970 vol 807 cc1285-6
Sir Harmar Nicholls

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Owing to the understandable difficulty of English Members getting in on Scottish Questions, is there any way of keeping the Scots out of English Members' Questions?

Mr. Speaker

The first part of the hon. Gentleman's assumption is right. It is difficult, almost impossible, for Englishmen to get into Scottish Questions while I am in the Chair.

Mr. John D. Grant

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is there any way in which hon. Members can be protected from the growing tendency by the Prime Minister to transfer Questions to Ministers? I have one today to the Prime Minister on the question of the national- ised industries, a particularly relevant issue, and it has been transferred to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. I think that hon. Members on both sides of the House are concerned at this growing tendency on the part of the Prime Minister to dodge matters of this sort.

Mr. Speaker

There is no growing tendency. It has always been in the power of the Prime Minister to transfer Questions addressed to him to whichever Ministry he thinks appropriate. He disappoints the hon. Members who want to put a question to him, but I can do nothing about it.

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