§ Mr. Frank Allaun (Salford, East)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will, Mr. Speaker, no doubt be aware that only seven Foreign Office questions were answered today, if we exclude European Community questions. In the available time we must cover a range of vital issues such as East-West relations, the Falklands, the Middle East, South Africa and so on. I think that you will agree that this is not good enough. Will you, when the new Session opens, arrange—if necessary through the usual channels—for a different agenda for Ministers? It is unfair to compress questions in this way. This has been in our minds for a long time, and it could not have been better demonstrated than by what has happened today. I do not know whether it is your duty, or that of the Front Bench, but the agenda must be altered, otherwise there will be extreme indignation on both sides of the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I have an answer that I hope will satisfy the hon. Member. His arithmetic was not strictly correct, but I do not quarrel with the argument. Ten questions were answered, because of the grouping, and I called the hon. Members whose questions had been grouped.
It will be within the knowledge of the House, and everyone else if they look at Hansard tomorrow, that it was not only the fact that EEC questions began at 3.10 pm that affected us. We have suffered from a lot of words today. I know that that is the wrong way to put it in the House. If hon. Members look at the range of questions and answers they will see that part of the remedy is in their hands.
This is a matter for the Leader of the House, not for me. The right hon. Gentleman has heard the point of order and will no doubt bear it in mind.
§ Mr. AllaunFurther to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. While it is true that both questions and answers have tended to be lengthy, I think you will agree that 40 minutes—less four, in my view unnecessary minutes for Prayers—are not good enough for world issues that could affect all of us.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman has made his point and we have our own attitudes to Prayers. I happen to agree with Prayers strongly. The House does as well, or we should not have Prayers. The rest of the hon. Gentleman's point is not for me.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Dickens (Huddersfield, West)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. There is one very important point which, with due respect, you did not draw to the attention of the House. That is that important questions were raised today and it was right that they were allowed to run as they did because of their importance. I made no complaints because I was not called.
§ Mr. Tony Marlow (Northampton, West)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Since the House agreed to join the European Community under certain basic financial arrangements, in terms of own resources for the Community, and since any change in own resources in the European Community means greater policy control, more areas of policy over which the Community has control and therefore fewer areas of policy over which the House has control and thereby a reduction in the sovereignty of this House, is it proper that my hon. Friend the Minister of State should announce such a change in Government policy in answer to a question?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must not tempt me. This is not my business.