HC Deb 02 December 1997 vol 302 c156
37. Mr. Canavan

What assessment she has made of the allocation of time to different Ministers to answer oral questions. [17129]

Mrs. Ann Taylor

We will review the rota from time to time. There have not been many criticisms of the existing rota, but I am always willing to listen to representations.

Mr. Canavan

Did my right hon. Friend notice that, in Scottish Question Time earlier this afternoon, we reached only Question 8? Until such time as the Scottish Parliament is established, can we have the restoration of a full hour of Scottish questions?

Mrs. Taylor

I sat through some of Scottish Question Time and I noticed that at 3 o'clock we were still on Question 3. I did not hear all the exchanges, so I do not know the reason for that. I know from conversations on the Bench that Scottish Ministers were disappointed by that situation.

Mr. Garnier

How many minutes has the Minister without Portfolio, the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), spent answering questions or making statements or speeches at the Dispatch Box since his appointment to the Government?

Mrs. Taylor

I do not monitor those figures.