§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Yesterday, I told the House that I would make a statement today about open questions on the EEC. In the belief that the House itself believes that it is entitled to know what question an hon. Member seeks to address to a Minister, which is why we have the Order Paper showing the questions, I appeal to hon. Members to table the questions that they intend to ask. Otherwise, the character of our Question Time will be changed—not by a conscious decision of the House but by sliding into a different habit.
From time to time the House reminds me that I am the guardian of its customs, and I feel that responsibility very greatly. But I can guard our Question Time only if I have the full co-operation of the House itself.