QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

HC Deb 13 November 1963 vol 684 cc3-4W

Mr. Bowden

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement about the Order of Questions during the period until the Christmas Adjournment.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Yes.

In view of the anxiety expressed by the Leader of the Opposition about the risk of undue delay in right hon. and hon. Members being able to put Oral Questions to some Ministers, a roster has been agreed which, although only a period of five weeks is involved, will ensure that most Ministers will be reached at least once during the period concerned, and some major Departments more than once. This has been done by limiting each Department to only one place in the schedule a week.

Mr. Peter Emery

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will arrange for Departments to make written Answers to Questions generally available to Members on the day of answer.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Yes. From the beginning of this Session Departments will make copies of written Answers to Questions available in the Library on the day of answer. In this way an Answer should be generally available to Members immediately after it has been received by the Member who asked the Question.