§ Mr. Christopher PriceOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The business for the rest of the day is not exactly massive. At 12.10 pm today I gave notice to the Department of Trade on behalf of a colleague—the hon. Member for Chesterle-Street (Mr. Radice), who is detained on other business—that should the business collapse I should want to raise a subject relating to small businesses and hotels. Four hours have now elapsed. I have had two contradictory messages— 676 one from the Department of Trade saying that the matter related to the Department of Industry and one from the Department of Industry saying that it related to the Department of Trade. Up to now, after four hours' notice both Departments failed to confirm that they would be willing to supply a Minister should the occasion occur.
I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker. In the past you ruled that adequate notice should be given to Ministers in cases of this kind. The business may last until 10 o'clock but I should like you to rule that four hours is adequate notice and that buck-passing by the Government is no excuse.
§ Mr. SpeakerFrom time to time I have indicated that after 8 pm it is unreasonable to accept notice of a second Adjournment debate. It is unfair to the Ministers and Departments, and everyone else concerned. I have always thought it reasonable to accept an application for a second Adjournment debate up until 8 o'clock. Although I have no wish to make an enemy of the Leader of the House, I advise the hon. Gentleman to pursue the matter with him. The hon. Gentleman is entitled to know which Minister answers to the House on the subject.