THE WORK OF PARLIAMENT 145

decide for itself when it will adjourn. As the Commons are
only adjourned, and not prorogued, during the long Summer
Recess, they can be summoned in emergency without formalities.
Every day, from Monday to Thursday, the House begins to
sit at 2.45 p.m. Prayers are read, and there is then an opportunity
to present petitions. When only a small .minority of the people
had votes, petitions served the useful purpose of keeping the
House in touch with the wishes of those who could not influence
it at elections; to-day there are few petitions and they have
little effect. Members then rise to ask Questions of Ministers.
Two days' notice has been given, and the Questions a're printed
on the Order Paper which every Member has. On urgent matters,
the Speaker may allow Questions, even if notice has only been
given to him by noon that day. The Questions range over all
topics: What comment has the Foreign Secretary to make on a
recent speech made by Hitler? Why cannot So-and-So, who lives
in a remote part of Scotland, get a telephone installed? When
the Minister has replied he may be assailed by Supplementary
Questions as Members rise and say "Arising out of that reply,
may I ask. . . ." Skill in answering Questions is one of the
qualities expected of a Minister, and if Members think they are
not receiving proper consideration, there will be much excitement.
Ingenious Members attempt to make short speeches in the form
of Questions but are usually checked by the Speaker. If a Member
is dissatisfied, he may move that the House adjourn in order
to discuss a definite matter of "urgent public importance".
The Speaker usually refuses to put this motion, but will do so
if the matter in question is such as is defined by the Standing
Orders of the House. Should the motion be allowed to be put,
the Member's grievance can be discussed in full later in the
day, and the Government will have to satisfy the House that
proper action will be taken. When private persons have suffered
an injui^ at the hands of an agent of the Government, their
rights can be safeguarded in this manner. Question Time is
thus valuable as a safeguard for individual liberty; it helps also