Questions to Ministers (Hansard, 9 December 1980)

§ Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)
On a point of order—

§ Mr. Michael English (Nottingham, West)
On a point of order—

§ Mr. Bob Cryer (Keighley)
On a point of order—

§ Mr. Harry Ewing (Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth)
On a point of order—

§ Mr. Martin Flannery (Sheffield, Hillsborough)
On a point of order—

Mr. Speaker
Order. I normally take points of order after statements. We are to have a statement. I have notice of an application under Standing Order No. 9 as well, I think from the hon. Member for Mid-Ulster (Mr. Dunlop).

§ Mr. English
My point of order, Mr. Speaker, relates to Prime Minister's questions—

Mr. Speaker
Order. We cannot pursue the matter of questions now, but—

§ Mr. English
rose—

Mr. Speaker
Order. If there is a genuine point of order I shall hear it, but the normal courtesies of the House are to wait until we have a Minister's statement.

§ Mr. English
I am grateful to you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure that you will be aware that at one time points of order were often raised during Question Time. During the time of your predecessor it was suggested that it would be courteous to hon. Members who wished to ask questions if points of order were delayed until the end of Question Time. They are now to be delayed until the end of statements, which can be a very long time. I wish to ask something relevant to an answer given by the Prime Minister. I do not wish her to remain for perhaps half an hour.

Mr. Speaker
The hon. Gentleman and the House know that I cannot rule on points of order about replies by Ministers Ministers are responsible for the contents of their own replies.

§ Mr. English.
I am sure, Mr. Speaker—

Mr. Speaker
Order. We cannot have a standing discussion with each other—at least, not here.

§ Mr. Cryer (Keighley)
I have a point of order, Mi. Speaker, relating to Standing Order No. 8. I have raised this point before, when you suggested that the Standing Order related only to private notice questions. However, it gives you power to allow questions at the end of Question Time, after 3.30 pin.
If the Opposition make representations about the Prime Minister's making a statement about an important and, in her terms, historic meeting, and she refuses, will you, Mr. Speaker, in those circumstances, when she is abrogating her responsibility to the House, be prepared to use your powers under Standing Order No. 8 to allow my tight hon. Friends the Leader of the Opposition and the appropriate Shadow spokesman to ask questions?

Mr. Speaker
I have already heard the Leader of the Opposition asking questions on that very subject. I shall 786 not use that Standing Order in a way that none of my predecessors ever did. I do not propose to put a new interpretation on the rule.