§ Mr. Tony Banks (Newham, North West)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I refer to your earlier ruling about not allowing supplementary questions to open ministerial questions. Speaking for myself, I am concerned about that ruling, because it affects the ability of Opposition Members to catch Ministers on the hop. Were it not to apply, Opposition Members would have an opportunity to be somewhat more immediate in terms of the subjects that they raise in supplementary questions. As I believe that problems arise out of the use of syndicates of right hon. and hon. Members, would it not be better to act against such syndicates rather than move against open questions to Ministers, which give Opposition Members in particular an opportunity to put Ministers on the spot? Will you, Mr. Speaker, examine the question of syndicates? Perhaps the matter might be referred to the Procedure Committee for examination in greater detail.
§ Mr. SpeakerI enunciated nothing new today, for that has always been the rule. I merely drew attention to that ruling because there were five questions on the Order Paper early in the day that were clearly open questions. As the hon. Gentleman's second point, I am aware of the problem of syndicates. When right hon. and hon. Members are not present, very often it is because they have forgotten or that a syndicate has put in a question for them. I welcome the hon. Gentleman's referring that matter to the Procedure Committee, because that practice is not beneficial to our procedures.