§ Q2. Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Prime Minister whether he will reduce the number of Questions put down to him that he transfers to other Ministers.
§ The Prime MinisterI already reply to more Questions and transfer proportionately fewer Questions than any Prime Minister since the war. Sir.
§ Mr. ThomasWill my right hon. Friend not agree that most hon. Members would prefer to question him about major areas of Government policy without the need to table nonsensical Questions and subsequently to engage in convoluted verbal gymnastics? Are there any further steps that he can take to assist the House in that matter?
§ The Prime MinisterThese are matters for the Chair and the Table Office, which have been advised by a Select Committee inquiring into this matter. However, the proportion of Questions that I have transferred is now running at 6.6 per cent. of all Questions tabled to me, compared to 242 the 26.7 per cent. in the 1970–71 Session and an average of over 17 per cent. in the Parliament that ended in February 1974.
§ Mr. FairbairnWill the Prime Minister use this Question Time to remind the British people that the pound in their pocket has not been devalued but that what his immaculate Government have achieved is an increase in the value of the dollar.
§ The Prime MinisterI am glad that the hon. and learned Gentleman's well-known economic knowledge has been helped by a cartoon this morning. At least he is beginning to appreciate some of these things. He will be well aware, if he studies the context in which I said, this, that this is an old Conservative legend, which only he believes in now.