HL Deb 19 January 1943 vol 125 cc668-70
LORD SNELL

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Moved, That the House do now adjourn. (Lord Snell.)

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, on the Motion for the adjournment, I am entitled to raise one point, and I do not propose to do it at any length. I wish to raise the whole question of the procedure in connexion with starred questions. I am aware that debates have taken place on this subject, but unfortunately I was not present. To-day I have had a starred question on the Paper which has kept me in the Chamber the whole afternoon waiting to ask it, whilst there was an important Committee upstairs which I ought to have attended. I cannot see any reason why the procedure in connexion with starred questions should not be the same as in connexion with questions in another place. After all, most of these starred questions only take a minute or two to ask and to answer. If they were to come at the beginning of the proceedings, the time during which starred questions should be asked could be limited to ten minutes or a quarter of an hour at the outside. I also suggest that the number of days before a question is asked should be determined by the Standing Committee. I further suggest that in the event of there being no starred questions, the proceedings should open from the very commencement, thus varying the practice, to some extent, from the House of Commons. I wish to urge that there are questions which numbers of your Lordships wish to put and do not wish to go to debate. They should be provided with a reasonable and convenient opportunity of asking these questions, and not have to wait through the whole afternoon for the purpose of asking a question which it takes only a minute to answer.

LORD SNELL

My Lords, the question of giving priority to starred questions over other Notices and Orders of the Day was referred to the Select Committee on Procedure by the House on December 2 last. It is anticipated that the Committee will meet at an early date and then report.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

I am much obliged to the noble Lord for his answer. I cannot expect anything more, but I wish to add my voice to the representations which have already been made.

House adjourned.