HC Deb 09 July 1979 vol 970 cc29-30
Mr. Hannam

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. With the Leader of the House present, may I refer to energy questions and the time that is allocated? Since the previous Parliament we have lost five minutes from the limited time that is available for energy questions. Bearing in mind the increasing importance of energy to hon. Members and their constituents, I ask that the time available for energy questions be restored to the previous allocation. You will have noted. Mr. Speaker, that we reached only question No. 14 on the Order Paper.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman will know that I do not control the Order Paper. However, his words will have been heard by those responsible.

Mr. Frank Allaun

On a somewhat similar point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is still in the Chamber, and I ask the right hon. Gentleman to tell us the outcome of his discussions that originated from complaints from both sides of the House that 30 minutes, less five minutes for Prayers, is an utterly inadequate allocation to deal with Foreign Office questions.

Mr. Speaker

I allowed the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) to make his point of order as I allowed the hon. Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) to make his. However, these are not matters for me. It would be out of order for the Leader of the House now to seek to make a statement without notice. The right hon. Gentleman will have heard what has been said.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

On a further point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it by Standing Order, or is it within the discretion of the Chair, that having exhausted questions to the Paymaster General we reverted to questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster rather than—as I admit I expected—to energy questions, which appear earlier on the Order Paper?

Mr. Speaker

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that issue. I reverted to questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster because if there had been no questions for the Paymaster General, the questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy would have run until 3.30 p.m.