HC Deb 23 May 2000 vol 350 cc857-8
32. Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)

If she will bring forward proposals to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons to place time limits on ministerial responses to oral questions. [121910]

The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Margaret Beckett)

I have no plans to do so, but I am aware of the need to balance the desire of Ministers to give full replies with the desire of the House to deal with a reasonable number of questions.

Mr. Bercow

Given that, in 1991, each oral question and answer took an average of two minutes and 57 seconds and nearly 19 questions were reached in an hour, but that, in 1999, each oral question and answer took, on average, three minutes and 42 seconds and only just over 15 questions were reached during the time, will the President of the Council consider a time limit, so that more MPs can ask questions of Ministers, extensive wafflers—from the Prime Minister downwards—can be cut short, and the right hon. Lady herself can emerge victorious as the most dextrous and succinct Minister at the Dispatch Box?

Mrs. Beckett

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, but flattery will not get him anywhere. I simply say to him that there is a balance in these matters, as ever. If he considers the way that questions are asked—not necessarily by someone such as himself, but more widely from those on the Conservative Benches—he will find that questions are often discursive and cover many topics. It is then difficult for Ministers to reply succinctly.

Mr. Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington)

Are Ministers told to keep their answers short?

Mrs. Beckett

Constantly.

Mr. David Heath (Somerton and Frome)

Would it discourage Ministers from giving very long answers, and their civil servants from preparing essays rather than short answers, if the period between the tabling of questions and their answer was reduced? That would have the additional advantage of making our questions topical occasionally, rather than relating to what was in the news two weeks previously.

Mrs. Beckett

I am not sure that what the hon. Gentleman suggests would make much difference from the point of view of topicality, but I know that he has raised this matter before. I believe that it has been suggested to him that he might like to take the matter up with the House authorities in other ways.

Mr. Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock)

Would it not be better if Ministers and hon. Members did not read questions and replies? That would speed matters up and make things much crisper. The problem is that planted questions get planted replies. Unlike my right hon. Friend, many Ministers are incapable of paraphrasing and feel obliged to read out what has been supplied to them. That is a great pity, and detracts from the House.

Mrs. Beckett

With respect, my hon. Friend will know that there has long been a tendency in all parties to be more disciplined about what is asked and what is answered. However, I repeat that the pressure in this exchange has been about replies from Ministers, and that it is difficult to answer discursive questions with less than discursive replies.