HC Deb 20 July 1971 vol 821 cc1258-9
Mr. Paget

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. On Tuesdays and Thursdays now for some time we have found a list of Prime Minister's Questions almost all of which are formalised and unintelligible. The reason for that is that any intelligible Question is automatically transferred to another Minister.

This has not always been so. Previous Prime Ministers have answered the majority of Questions, although some have been transferred. Could something be done about this, Mr. Speaker, perhaps through the Prime Minister's Office and through your representations, so that our Order Paper can become intelligible and we can have some idea of what the Prime Minister is being asked?

Mr. Speaker

I have commented upon this matter before. I do not think that it is one for the Chair. I asked that it should be examined. I understand that it is being examined.

The Prime Minister

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I have told the House before that there has been no change in the rules dealing with the transfer of Prime Minister's Questions. I have also given figures to the House showing that I have been answering a higher percentage of Questions tabled for me than were answered by my predecessor.

The plain fact is that when Questions are tabled which should be directed to the departmental Minister responsible it is in the tradition of the House and in accordance with parliamentary responsibility that the Minister responsible should answer them. If there are Questions tabled to me within my direct responsibility, I always answer them. When, on the other hand, Questions are tabled of a nature of which the hon. and learned Gentleman is complaining, such as Questions concerning co-ordination or reference to speeches, they are tabled for purposes other than to deal with specific matters for which the Prime Minister is responsible. I understand the hon. and learned Gentleman's frustration and I share it.

Mr. Fernyhough

Mr. Speaker, would you put it to the Prime Minister that a former Conservative Prime Minister who transferred Questions always took them back if those who had tabled the Questions objected to their being transferred? I am referring to Mr. Macmillan.

Mr. Ashton

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Can I ask your advice on who is responsible for matters of Cabinet decision? For today's Questions I tabled a Question asking the Prime Minister to pay a visit to Sheffield because of 4,000 redundancies there. The Prime Minister transferred the Question, yet he accepted a Question asking him if he would make a visit to Derby. This is the dilemma which back benchers are in, not knowing whether their Questions will be transferred.

Mr. Speaker

This is very difficult country. All the time I have been in the House I can remember trouble about the transfer of Questions. The one thing which is absolutely certain is that it is nothing to do with the Chair and these matters must be discussed through the usual channels or in some other way.