HC Deb 07 April 1971 vol 815 cc640-1

Ordered, That the Second Report from the Select Committee on procedure in Session 1969–70 be now considered.—[Mr. Whitelaw.]

Report considered accordingly.

1.8 a.m.

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. William Whitelaw)

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the recommendations contained in paragraphs 6, 13, 14 and 24 of the said Report, and in respect of excess starred Questions is of opinion that the removal should be carried out one sitting day before that on which it is at present carried out, no subsequent readjustment being allowed. The best answer for a Select Committee is that its recommendations should be implemented. I propose that, with one exception, we should concur in the Select Committee's recommendations in its Report for 1969–70 in respect of alterations in the present Question Time procedure.

The Select Committee's proposals for change fall into two categories: those concerned with arrangements for tabling Questions and those dealing with the organisation of Question Time itself, particularly so that hon. Members may have a proper and more equal chance of getting oral answers to their Questions. I believe that these changes will go a considerable way to improve hon. Members' opportunities to achieve oral Answers. If the House agrees to these changes, I hope we might allow some time in which to judge Question Time on this new basis before considering any more fundamental changes.

In the meantime, I believe that we can all do much to help ourselves by supporting the efforts of Mr. Speaker to cut short supplementary questions and answers irrelevant to the original question. If we do succeed in curing this problem by a self-imposed discipline of brevity and relevance, the number of questions reached will of course be greatly increased. As for the Government, I will do my best to ensure that Ministerial answers are as brief and to the point as possible.

I therefore recommend to the House the Motion and the Amendments to Standing Order No. 8 in the belief that the will serve towards a better use of Question Time, by providing for greater topicality in the questions reached and for a fairer opportunity for more hon. Members to get their questions answered.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the recommendations contained in paragraphs 6, 13, 14 and 24 of the said Report, and in respect of excess starred Questions is of opinion that the removal should be carried out one sitting day before that on which it is at present carried out, no subsequent readjustment being allowed.