§ Mr. BoydenOn a point of order. Arising out of Questions, Mr. Speaker, what is the point of having an asterisk against the name of the Minister for the Civil Service to answer Question No. 35, when the previous long-winded propaganda from Scottish Ministers effectively prevents any Answer to such a Question? Are we not put at a disadvantage in serious Questions to Civil Service Ministers in this House when this sort of thing happens and when the Prime Minister, who might be in a position to answer such questions, refuses to do so in detail?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member is on a valid point. Without apportioning blame between the sides, there is no doubt that today both Answers and supplementaries were in my view too long. This is a matter on which the House must discipline itself. If we are to get on and to achieve a reasonable number of answers to Questions, supplementaries and Answers should be shorter.