HC Deb 22 July 1982 vol 28 c533
Mr. Robin Maxwell-Hyslop (Tiverton)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The rule from time out of mind about points of order is that they should be raised on the first available occasion. You have reasonably asked that points of order about Question Time should not be raised during Question Time, which is why I am raising this point now.

It has often happened in the past that Ministers have replied "This is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Minister for this or that". Today, we have twice had from Home Office Ministers answers of the form "This raises wider considerations", without those Ministers nominating the Department to which questions on the subject should be addressed.

That is an important matter for hon. Members, because we need to know to whom we should address questions. Although you, Mr. Speaker, are not responsible for Ministers' answers, you are responsible for questions accepted by the Table Office. May I ask that, in guarding the rights of hon. Members to ask questions, you should give guidance to Ministers to the effect that if they reply or imply that a question is not wholly for them they should say to whom it ought to be addressed?

Mr. Speaker

I think that if the hon. Member is not satisfied with an answer, the best course is for him to ask the Minister which Department he has in mind. It would be dangerous for me to start censoring Ministers' replies.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker——

Mr. Speaker

Order. I will take the hon. Gentleman's point of order, but I hope that he will not pursue the matter too far. He knows, as well as any hon. Member, that I have no power to do what he asks me to do.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I cannot, without catching your eye, ask a second supplementary question. I am not permitted to do so.

Mr. Speaker

Obviously I did not make myself as clear as I should have. I was advising the hon. Gentleman to corner the Minister when he left the Chamber. It is not a matter for the whole House and it is certainly not a matter for me. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will leave it there.

Mr. Frank Hooley (Sheffield, Heeley)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. We have today a Business Statement and three other important statements. Will you please indicate the time that you are considering allotting for supplementary questions on each statement?

Mr. Speaker

It would be unwise of me to do that until I have heard the statements.