HC Deb 31 October 1979 vol 972 cc1260-1
Mr. Emery

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I apologise for not giving you notice of this point of order, but it has arisen only in the last hour and a quarter. Perhaps you will cast your mind back and recall that twice in the Session 1959–1960 I was called to order by Mr. Speaker Hylton-Foster for asking more than one supplementary question. I realise only too well that the precedents and customs have altered since that time. However, when we consider the situation today, when we have had two statements, we see that an hour and a quarter—over one-fifth of the time allotted before 10 o'clock—has been used up on statements and questons to Ministers. That is very unsatisfactory to hon. Members who are interested in the main business of the House. As a matter of order, I wonder whether you might have words with the Leader of the House—I notice that he is present—to see whether this whole matter can be referred to the Select Committee on Procedure for it to consider when it is set up later this Session?

Mr. Speaker

I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman. The House will recall that at the beginning of my Speakership I tried very hard to return to the custom of three Speakers ago—Mr. Speaker Hylton-Foster—when only one supplementary question was allowed. If any hon. members asked more, they were just not called for a considerable time. I would be only too pleased to have the support of the House in taking such a step, but my own experience is that the House wobbles on this matter according to which hon. Member rises.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I had the distinct impression that when very occasionally in the last Parliament you allowed a second supplementary question, because quite clearly the Minister who answered had evaded the answer that the House wanted, that innovation appeared to meet with considerable approbation and not resentment.

Mr. Speaker

I do not think that the hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friend are talking about the same thing. The matter that has been raised is the difficulty that arises when hon. Members who have been called to ask supplementary questions selfishly ask two or three questions. We could deal with many more questions every day if hon. Members asked one supplementary question.