HC Deb 27 January 1972 vol 829 c1617
Sir H. Legge-Bourke

On a point of order. May I refer to a matter arising out of the Answer given by the Home Secretary today to Question No. 18, put to him by the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis)? I think it will be within the recollection of the House and yourself, Mr. Speaker, that in answering that Question the Home Secretary undertook to inform the right hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) who is direcly affected—and the only hon. Member directly affected in this case—of the outcome of a certain inquiry which he had instigated. The hon. Member for Hackney, Central, then gave notice that he wished to raise the matter on the Adjournment in view of what he regarded as the unsatisfactory nature of the reply.

I put it to you that it is understood by all hon. Members that once an hon. Member gives notice that he intends to raise a matter on the Adjournment that prevents any further questions on that matter going down on the Order Paper. In view of the fact that the right hon. Member for Leeds, East, was not present when this Question was answered today, may I suggest that, even if there is no Standing Order covering the matter, it is a long-standing, common practice of this House that hon. Members do not prevent another hon. Member on behalf of whom they may have raised a question from having the first opportunity of commenting on a Ministerial reply directly affecting themselves, which is the effect of the action taken by the hon. Member for Hackney, Central today.

Mr. Speaker

I am grateful to the hon. and gallant Member for raising this point. I will give my opinion straight away and consider afterwards whether I am correct. My impression is that all that giving notice of intention to raise a matter on the Adjournment does is to stop further supplementary questions. I do not think it rules out further questions later.

Mr. Clinton Davis

Further to that point of order. One of the purposes as I understand it of giving notice in that way is to raise a point of principle as well of which one feels there has been a breach. It was for that reason that I took the action I did this afternoon.