§ 4.4 pm
§ Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I am sorry to trouble you again with a matter that I raised yesterday regarding the answering of written questions. I said yesterday that Ministers continue to abuse the system of named days by failing to answer questions on the day that is named. I received an answer to a question yesterday, which appears at column 260 of Hansard. Madam Speaker, I know that you are not responsible for answers given in this place, but the answer provided bears absolutely no relation to the question that I asked concerning an important matter. Will you issue an instruction to Ministers through the Leader of the House that they must try to answer the questions that are asked and do so on the day that answers are due?
§ Madam SpeakerAs the hon. Gentleman points out, answers to questions are not my responsibility. I know that he has raised this matter before. He might put his question directly to the President of the Council when she deals with business questions. I cannot commit myself, but I shall try to look his way at the appropriate time.