Upper Clyde Shipyards (Hansard, 10 April 1972)

37. Mr. Edward Taylor
To ask the Secretary of Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the position of the shipyards in Upper Clydeside.

§ Mr. Benn
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I know that you do not like points of order to be raised during Question Time, but I hope, nevertheless, that I may raise this matter now.
The hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward Taylor) tabled Question No. 37, but he did not ask it. Had I known that he intended not to ask it, I might have put down a Private Notice Question on the subject. I give notice that I shall raise the matter at the end of Questions.

§ Mr. Speaker
Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would raise his point of order now.

§ Mr. Benn
If an hon. Member puts a Question on the Order Paper, it is assumed by other hon. Members that that Question will be answered. In respect of U.C.S., inquiries have been afoot with the Department over a period, and a 846 statement has been expected. When I saw the hon. Gentleman's Question on the Order Paper and noticed that he was present I expected his Question to be answered. It raises difficulties if at the last minute a Question is not asked, thus denying other hon. Members the opportunity of putting questions on matters that are urgent.

Mr. Edward Taylor
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Surely it is in order, in view of the delicate negotiations that are taking place, affecting the livelihood of thousands of people in West Scotland, for a Member who has put down a Question to take on the responsibility of deciding that it would be wiser to postpone asking it, which is precisely what I have done, in the interests of all the people employed at the yards? I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman, who has taken a close interest in safeguarding the position of the yards, will agree that it is wiser, as I have done, to put down a Question for next Monday.

§ Mr. Speaker
I am not in a position to go into the merits of whether the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward Taylor) is right or wrong, or whether the right hon. Member for Bristol, South-East (Mr. Benn) was making a fair comment. I must deal with this as a matter of order. It is a well-established practice that a Member has a right to withdraw his Question and not to seek to have it answered.

Several Hon. Members
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I cannot have any more points or order on the same point of order. I have ruled on it. It is the right of an hon. Member to withdraw his Question, and there the matter rests. The merits have nothing to do with me.