§ Dr. HampsonOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Select Committee on Procedure drew attention in 1971 to the abuse by Ministers of inspired Written Questions. The Department of Education and Science has been carrying out this abuse for some time, culminating this morning in a sneaky whisper of an announcement about raising student fees. The Department knows that this is an emotional issue because of the row which was caused on this issue on exactly the same day, the Wednesday before the Christmas Recess, in 1967.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. What has this to do with the Chair?
§ Dr. HampsonI believe that this is an abuse of the rights of the House, Mr. Speaker, particularly the cherished right of scrutiny of Ministers, because of a Minister seeking to avoid embarrassing cross-examination of a major policy change—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. That is not a matter for the Chair. How Ministers decide to answer Questions, whether by written or oral answer, is not a matter for me.