HC Deb 20 July 1978 vol 954 cc785-6
Mr. Jasper More

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. With reference to today's Questions, may I respectfully draw your attention to the fact that forestry is not an unimportant responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food? We had a forestry Question, Question No. 12, in the name of the hon. Member for Preston, North (Mr. Atkins), but in the course of 40 minutes we were able only to reach Agriculture Question No. 10.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman is quite correct. He will remember that I appealed more than once for shorter questions and answers. But every time I moved on from a Question today there were a large number of hon. Members still standing. I am sorry that we did not reach forestry.

Mr. Buchan

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the number of times that the right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton) rose to ask agricultural questions, is not this a case of Peyton rebuking sin?

Mr. Speaker

Not exactly. The right hon. Gentleman took the place of somebody else who would have been called on the Opposition side.