§ Mr. EmeryOn a point of order. I apologise for not giving you, Mr. Speaker, notice of this point of order, which has been illustrated by what has happened on the statement by the Secretary of State for the Environment. Can you find a way to return to past practice?
Today, five Front Bench Opposition spokesmen have sought to put questions on the statement. Frequently Front Bench spokesmen are able to pose more and often slightly longer questions than you, Mr. Speaker, would allow back bench Members to pose. The practice used to be that often Front Bench spokesmen retired to the back benches to take their turn in catching your eye to put questions. The present practice does nothing to facilitate back bench Members in putting questions.
§ Mr. SpeakerOne of the myths of Parliament is that things were ever so much better in previous Parliaments. Whichever party is in power, when important statements are made—and the House would agree that we have had a series of important statements recently—the Opposition Front Bench spokesmen indulge in a wider range of activity than is usual. I try to call back bench Members whenever I can, but the Front Bench has a right to lend significance to a statement by multiplying its questions.
§ Mr. EadieFurther to the point of order. While I have some sympathy with the hon. Member for Honiton (Mr. Emery), it is of great significance that Government Members were running out of questions whereas my hon. Friends and I had many questions to ask. As a Scottish Member, I would have liked to ask the Secretary of State for Scotland a question through the Secretary of State for the Environment. We should like to question the Government further on this statement.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for resisting the temptation to put the question which he would have liked to put if he had managed to catch my eye. It is very difficult for Mr. Speaker to reconcile the claim of Members to subject Ministers to a searching examination and the claim of the House to deal with the business of the day. It is a matter of judgment. I must take action at certain times. I hope that we can move on.
§ Mr. EnglishOn a point of order. Since it is your custom, Mr. Speaker, to divide questions on statements between both sides of the House, and to call all Front Bench spokesmen who stand up, even if the Secretary of State for Scotland does not do so, would you in future divide the time for back bench questions between both sides of the House?
§ Mr. SpeakerI do not think I could do that.
§ Mr. DouglasOn a point of order. As a relatively new Member, I seek your guidance Mr. Speaker on this very important matter. I should like to crave your indulgence by referring to the White Paper on the Reorganisation of Central Government which is to be discussed later. It says:
The functions of the Scottish Office are not affected by any of the changes set out above. In Scotland Ministerial responsibility for most of the services now assigned to the Department of the Environment is already in the hands of the Secretary of State for Scotland, as also is his responsibility in relation to the local authority personal social servicesWhen will we be afforded an opportunity to question pertinently the Secretary of State for Scotland on the Ministerial statements made before today and, in particular, this afternoon?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is a question which I suppose the Government Front Bench will note. I have no power to summon any Minister to attend, even from Scotland.