HC Deb 08 February 1971 vol 811 cc31-2
Mr. Molloy

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. At the commencement of Question Time you rebuked both back and Front Bench Members on this side of the House for the alleged plurality of their supplementary questions on prices. May I point out that many of us have attempted to put down Questions on prices to other Ministers responsible, as indicated by the Prime Minister, but have failed to get those Questions accepted? The Leader of the House has, nevertheless, agreed to look into this complaint. Would you bear with our feelings when we put down Questions about prices on behalf of our constituents? The only Minister whom one can acquit as having the nerve to answer such Questions is the Secretary of State who has been answering from that Box today. We are placed in a grave dilemma, but I hope you will realise that it is not entirely our fault.

Mr. Speaker

I was not rebuking the hon. Member earlier on. I was only suggesting that if we were to get as many Questions as possible called and answered it was wise to restrict the length of supplementary questions, and I think that today, if I may say so, the House has done very much better than it has done on any other day since I have been in the Chair.