21 JUNE 1935, Page 3

In the absence of Mr. Walter Elliot . a long

series of questions were answered by a Junior Whip. It occurs to me that a much better practice in the absence of the Minister of a Department, where as in the case of the Ministry of Agriculture the Under-Secretary is in the House of Lords, would be for the questions to be answered by his Parliamentary Private Secretary. A Whip has of necessity no knowledge of the issues raised and can only reply to any supplementary question that " he will convey to his right honourable friend the views of the honourable member," which is not particularly helpful. A Par- liamentary Private Secretary on the other hand, if he is any good at his job, would be in a position to give a detailed answer. It would also give him a chance of showing his form. At present a Parliamentary Private Secretaryship is a thankless job. He is restricted from taking part in the rough-and-tumble of debate, and though he is given a valuable insight into the working of a department he is not infrequently passed over when promotions are made to the minor offices of the Government.

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