§ Mr. Alan Meale (Mansfield)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. As you know, I asked question No. 12 during today''s Question Time, but, because of the noise from the Conservative Benches behind the Minister, the Secretary of State for Transport was unable to hear my supplementary question. May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, through your good offices, to inquire of the Minister whether he would give me an answer to my supplementary question? I also wish to raise with you, knowing that you have such a difficult job, especially at Prime Minister's Question Time, the question whether Conservative Members should refrain from defending their Ministers and instead be more concerned about the defence of the nation.
§ Mr. Richard Holt (Langbaurgh)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Opposition Members must not complain if they fail to put their questions in the proper way and have to read them.
§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Let us have a bit of balance here. The hon. Member for Meriden (Mr. Mills) put a question to the Secretary of State for Transport and everybody on this side of the House heard him read the question. Nobody stopped him or cared too much about it. However, in the hurly-burly of Question Time, just before the Prime Minister answered questions, my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) was subjected to abuse. Quite frankly, the rule ought to be the same for everybody.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner), who is always helpful, has drawn attention to an important matter. It is not in order for hon. Members to read their questions. It is a practice that causes hon. Members on both sides of the House to challenge hon. Members who do so. I cannot help the hon. Gentleman further. The hon. Member for Meriden (Mr. Mills) was not reading his question, but was referring to notes.
§ Mr. MealeFurther to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. As I understand the rules of the House, it is in order to use copious notes during the course of a debate. I was using copious notes because I wished to put a specific and technical question to the Minister.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. It is in order to use notes—although I hope not too copious notes—in debates, but not at Question Time.
§ Mr. James Hill (Southampton, Test)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. During the exchanges on the important matter of transportation you said that those who were unfortunate enough not to be called would be able to take part in the debate immediately following questions. Is that at all possible, Mr. Speaker, or was that a way of saying, "Do not keep persevering; you may or may not be called during the later debate"?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman should not read too much into these signals. I said that the content of the statement would be a subject for the next debate.