HL Deb 09 July 1973 vol 344 cc503-4

2.50 p.m.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask the Leader of the House whether he would consider drawing the special attention of noble Lords to page 68 of the Companion to the Standing Orders, where it states, "The essential purpose of Starred Questions and supplementaries is to elicit information from the Government, and so they should not incorporate statements of opinion".

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD WINDLESHAM)

My Lords, in answer to a Question last week, I reminded the House that the Companion to the Standing Orders states: Starred Questions are asked for information only, and not with a view to making a speech or to raising a debate". The passage to which my noble friend refers is also relevant, and draws particular attention to the undesirability of incorporating statements of opinion either in Starred Questions or in supplementaries.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, may I thank my noble Leader very much for publicising the matter so thoroughly.

LORD PLATT

My Lords, is it in fact possible to stick strictly to that rule? Is a question allowable if it is worded: "Would Her Majesty's Government agree that …" and then goes on to state an opinion as well as to ask a question of Her Majesty's Government?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, the words quoted in my noble friend's Question are from the Companion to Standing Orders. As we discussed on the earlier Question put down recently by the noble Lord, Lord Shinwell, it is for the House as a whole to interpret the way in which the Standing Orders are applied, and to maintain order within the House. A certain tolerance has always been a feature of your Lordships' proceedings, but it is a question of how far that tolerance extends.

LORD SOMERS

My Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that there are many instances when speakers preface their observations with the words, "Is the noble Lord aware", and then follow on with a long statement of opinion?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, I think that it is worth your Lordships' keeping in mind that including statements of opinion in the form of a question does not necessarily bring them within the rules of order. This is a matter of judgment. It is also sometimes a matter of the length of the supplementary as well as whether it is put in the form of a question or not. These are not hard and fast rules, but they need to be applied with some sense of judgment by noble Lords in all parts of the House.