Questions to Ministers (Hansard, 26 November 1981)

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) gave me notice yesterday that he wished to raise a point of order.

§ Mr. Marlow
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Although our budget deficit with the Community was a relatively small £92 million over the first six months of this year, it increased by a massive £405 million over the subsequent three months. Suspecting that to be the case, I put down a priority written question for answer on Monday 16 November. The question was so simple that my 10-year-old daughter could have answered it without any trouble. I merely asked what had been the monthly cash figures between ourselves and the Community. I was told that the question was too difficult to answer in the time available and that there would be some delay—the usual delaying tactics.
1008 Last Thursday we had Treasury Questions and No. 3 concerned our contribution to the Community budget. Also last Thursday there was a debate in the Community about our contribution. The substantive answer to my absurdly simple question was not produced until both those events were over.
Hon. Members require available information so that they can participate in Question Time and debates that are fundamentally important to the interests of the country and our constituents. Is there any way in which you, Mr. Speaker, can prevail upon people to bring forward such information in time?

§ Mr. Speaker
I am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for the way in which he has made his point. He and the House will realise that it is a matter for someone other than me, but his complaint has been heard by those who can do something about it and make inquiries into it.