HC Deb 25 March 1971 vol 814 cc876-7
Mr. John Fraser

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will be aware that we reached only No. 15 in Questions to the Department of Employment today. From the copious quotation and slow diction of the Secretary of State, there appeared to be a deliberate attempt to avoid Question No. 16, which would have revealed a 29 per cent. rise in unemployment since June.

As one is now asked to put down Questions on the subject, and, naturally, one does so, can you, Mr. Speaker, do what you can to follow the practice of your predecessor in trying to hurry along our proceedings at Question Time? One understands how difficult it is, but it is extremely frustrating when one cannot question the Government on the charlatanry of the Prime Minister.

Mr. Speaker

So far as that is a point of order, certainly the Chair is only too anxious to co-operate with hon. Members. As a matter of accuracy, Ministers did answer 21 Questions, I think, because several others were taken at the same time as earlier ones. But I am entirely with the hon. Gentleman, and I shall gladly accept his help and that of other hon. Members in hurrying Questions along.

Mr. Rose

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In reply to my question, the Prime Minister hid behind the suggestion that a Question could be put down to the Secretary of State for Employment. A Question was put down. It was not reached. Is it in order, therefore, for the Prime Minister to refer to a Question in that way when it was not possible to put such a Question to the Secretary of State for Employment?

Mr. Speaker

That is a comment. It is not a point of order.

Mr. Ashton

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I draw your attention to the fact that Question No. 11 took 11 minutes to answer because the Secretary of State insisted on making a statement about the resignation of Mr. George Woodcock from the C.I.R.? Two weeks ago when the Secretary of State for Social Services wished to make a statement about smoking he asked that a Question put down by my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin) should be taken at 3.30. Would it not have been more in order for the Secretary of State for Employment to have taken a similar course and asked to make a statement at 3.30 on such an important controversial issue?

Mr. Speaker

These are interesting comments. They are not points of order.