QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS (Hansard, 24 April 1980)

§ Mr. Michael Hamilton
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. With no disrespect to the Leader of the Opposition, may I put it to you that it is in the interests of Back Benchers on both sides of the House that some limit should be placed on the number of occasions on which any one of us can intervene? Today the Leader of the Opposition was called no fewer than five times. I believe that the majority of hon. Members would agree with what I have said.

§ Mr. Mike Thomas
Further to. that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not the case that if the right hon. Lady the Prime Minister were to answer a simple question there would be no need for my right hon. Friend to intervene on so many occasions?

§ Mr. Speaker
The House knows that I have often said that I would give extra latitude to the Leader of the Opposition. It is not often that he intervenes on five occasions.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Norman St. John-Stevas)
He has.

§ Mr. Speaker
Well, the Leader of the House can count better than I can. How- 700 even, the House knows that that extra latitude is given. I know that normally the right hon. Gentleman is aware that his own hon. Friends wish to intervene.

§ Mr. Skinner
He kept me from speaking, but I am not complaining.

§ Mr. Speaker
That makes me feel at home with the hon. Gentleman.

§ Mr. Scott
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. You mentioned the right hon. Gentleman's own supporters. Is not there something to be said for your taking the view that if the Leader of the Opposition rises five times in succession five Conservative Members might then be called?

§ Mr. Speaker
That is an interesting suggestion.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I suggest that one can avoid both those problems if, when the Leader of the Opposition is minded to repeat his question a number of times, he could intervene towards the end of Prime Minister's Question Time so that Back Benchers can get in their questions and so that he is able to receive the same answer several times?

§ Mr. Leighton
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not a fact that my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition had to persist in his question because the Prime Minister evaded the answer?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. This will get us nowhere. It is all a matter of good sense and patience, and give and take. It is not often that the Leader of the Opposition intervenes five times, although it may have happened before.

§ Mr. Speaker
I see that the Leader of the House has counted five.

§ Mr. St. John-Stevas
During business questions.

§ Mr. Speaker
Oh, I see. We are talking on a different level.