§ Mr. MaddenOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You confessed earlier that you found it difficult to stay awake during Question Time. Clearly this was due to the fact that the first 21 Questions were tabled by Conservative Members and because there was a repetition of Questions to the Prime Minister tabled by Conservative Members. To avoid any suspicion that the Conservative Central Office is organising a closed shop among those who prepare the Order Paper and to protect the interests of all Back Benchers, are you prepared to make representations with a view to introducing some generally understood rules as to the preparation of the Order Paper? The situation as it now exists is a complete bagatelle and, as we experienced today, has worked against the interests of all Back Benchers.
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is a matter of luck whether hon. Members are first when tabling Questions. However, this afternoon, despite an appeal made at the beginning of Question Time for hon. Members to cut their preambles to their supplementary questions, there were a number of very long supplementary questions to the Secretary of State for Social Services. Therefore, the House has only itself to blame if it reaches, as we did today, only Question No. 15.