Questions to the Prime Minister
Oral Answers to Questions — Local Government and Regional Planning
Sir Harmar Nicholls (Peterborough)
I wish to pursue the point of order that I made, with reluctance, during Question Time. The Prime Minister answered Questions Nos. Q1 and Q3 together. They are two different Questions and the answers were quite different. The effect was that there was no further discussion on the supplementaries on Question No. Q1 where the point of principle was involved. All the discussion was on the other Question, No. Q3, which was a technical, administrative matter.
Your Ruling at that stage, Mr. Speaker, was that the matter was in the hands of the Minister. I should have thought that the convention of the House is quite clear and the only way that is fair to back benchers. It is surely only acceptable for Questions to be answered together if the answer is identical to all Questions, but if the answer is different then they ought to be treated as separate Questions.
Dr Horace King (Southampton, Itchen)
The hon. Gentleman has pursued a little more lengthily the point which he put in exactly the same way during Question Time. It is for a Minister to decide which Questions he groups together.
Sir Harmar Nicholls (Peterborough)
On a point of order. The whole convention of the history of the House is not in accordance with that Ruling, Sir. It is not for the Minister to decide, according to my experience over nearly 20 years. Questions are only answered together where the answer is identical. I submit this as a point to be considered separately by the Chair.
Dr Horace King (Southampton, Itchen)
As far as order is concerned, the point is exactly as I have ruled. It is for the Minister to decide not merely whether Questions are identical, but whether they are akin. If the hon. Gentleman does not agree with what the Prime Minister did, that is not unusual.
Mr Woodrow Wyatt (Bosworth)
When the Prime Minister says "With permission, I will answer Questions Nos. Q.1 and Q.3 together", whose permission is he seeking and who is giving the permission?
Dr Horace King (Southampton, Itchen)
If the hon. Gentleman turns up HANSARD, he will find that over and again the Speaker has ruled that this is one of the courtesies of the House.
Mr John Peyton (Yeovil)
On a point of order. If it is one of the courtesies of the House, and we welcome the use of that word by you, Mr. Speaker, would it not be right that the Prime Minister should refrain from abusing it?
Mr Geoffrey Hirst (Shipley)
On a point of order, further to the same matter. The problem here involves the protection of back benchers and does not involve any questioning of your personal Ruling, Mr. Speaker. How far is this to be allowed to go? If, as in the case here, the first Question was not answered at all, although I am not accusing the Prime Minister in this case, this could be a way of avoiding an answer in the House.