Sir David Model (South-West Bedfordshire)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I wonder whether you could help Back-Bench Members. Last Thursday, we only got to Question 13. Today, we only got to Question 10, because we had long rambling questions and long rambling answers from those on the Treasury Bench.
Do you agree, Madam Speaker, that a good example could be set to the House? If Ministers do not know the answer to a question, instead of giving a long answer, which offers us every form of assistance short of help, they should do as Mr. Attlee would have done and simply say, "That is an interesting point. I will make a note of it." We could then get on to the next question. Progress is incredibly slow in the House, which is extremely frustrating to those of us on the humble Back Benches.
§ Madam SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman is absolutely correct. I am very concerned about the lack of progress at Question Time. He and others will recall that I have made more than one statement about that in the hope of guiding Members.
I watch the progress of questions and answers; I not only listen to them daily, but regularly look at the number of questions asked and answers given. I speak to those responsible because I am extremely concerned that many Back Benchers do not get an opportunity to ask their questions because they are not reached.
There are two reasons why we are not making progress. One is the length of answers given by Ministers at the Dispatch Box; the other is the length of questions from Opposition Front-Bench Members, as well as from all Back-Bench Members. I do not wish to embarrass Members by intervening too often, but I am going to have to when Members stand and give a long preamble before 1034 they actually come to the question. I reiterate that I am also concerned about long ministerial answers. I have also taken that up with those responsible.
Since the House came back in November, the position has deteriorated even more. Only this week, I have been working on the matter with those concerned in the hope that we shall make better progress. I am keen to support Back Benchers when they take the trouble to table questions to ensure that as many as possible are able to be called to ask them.
§ Mr. Geraint Davies (Croydon, Central)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Ottaway) raised a point of order in which he asked me to come to the House to apologise because I had suggested to the House that the 1983 Conservative manifesto did not contain a commitment to abolish the Greater London council. However, I had made no such statement. The previous day, I had asked the hon. Member for Croydon, South whether he would apologise if he found that the Conservative manifesto did not contain such an undertaking. I should like to put that correction on the record. I also suggest that the hon. Gentleman's point of order was an abuse of that procedure.
§ Madam SpeakerThat seems to have sorted the record out, but I hope that the hon. Gentleman gave notice to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Ottaway) that he was raising the matter today. It is usual to do so.
§ Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)Did you?
§ Mr. DaviesNo, I did not. [HON. MEMBERS: "Disgraceful."] The hon. Member for Croydon, South did not give—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I think that the matter has probably been resolved, but it is usual to give notice when invoking another Member in such an issue.