HC Deb 26 January 1976 vol 904 cc27-8
Mr. Crouch

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In your last week of office, will you make an observation which might help us in the future proceedings of the House? No doubt it will not have escaped your notice that today the Secretary of State for Industry answered barely one-third of the Questions directed to him on the Order Paper. We come here in force to hear what he has to say, and it can be extremely inadequate and unsatisfactory when the answers by Ministers of State and Under-Secretaries of State are less than successful in reply to Questions.

Mr. Speaker

I do not think that the hon. Gentleman will succeed in drawing me on this topic. I think that I must maintain my position that the content of answers and the selection of Ministers to answer Questions is not a matter for the Chair.