§ 33. Mr. AllenTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the maximum period of notice given to Ministers for oral questions from 14 days to two days.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI have at present no plans to do so, and I would not consider such a proposal without first having had the views of the Procedure Committee., of which the hon. Gentleman is a distinguished member.
§ Mr. AllenDid that reply take the right hon. and learned Gentleman 14 days to think up? Do similar replies take his ministerial colleagues 14 days to think up? Is not it time that we reduced the number of days' notice that Ministers have on questions to something a little more reasonable, such as two or three days?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe reason for questions is normally the elicitation of information from Ministers, so it makes sense that there should be a reasonable time for the preparation of answers. Aside from that, the hon. Gentleman, as a member of the Procedure Committee, knows perfectly well that I could not bring forward a change in this respect without such change having been considered by that Committee. I advise the hon. Gentleman strongly to ensure that his bright ideas are processed by the Committee. I do not think that he advances them by raising them again and again on the Floor of the House.