§ MR. CARBUTTI wish to ask you, Sir, a Question on a point of Order. It 1391 will be in the recollection of the House that I yesterday moved for—
A Return of the number and size of guns used in the Navy for firing Salutes, the number of rounds fired for each Salute, specifying the occasions on which fired, and the number of accidents which have occurred through firing Salutes during the last five years.I agreed with the Secretary to the Admiralty that this Return should be ordered as an unopposed Return. It will be in the recollection of the House that the noble Lord opposite (Viscount Folkestone) opposed that Return. The noble Lord has persistently opposed Returns, and also persistently opposed Bills; and I wish to ask you, Sir, whether he can be Named for wilful and persistent Obstruction?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe noble Lord, on the occasion to which the hon. Member refers, acted on his own responsibility and quite within his right.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Speaker, Whether, in the event of the Resolution of Urgency being carried, it would prevent a discussion being raised on the usual Motion for the adjournment of the House upon an answer to any important Question in regard to our foreign relations, which might arise at the time when the Urgency Rule was in force?
§ MR. SPEAKERIn the event of the Resolution being carried, that the state of Public Business is urgent, it will then become my duty, in pursuance of the Resolution, to frame such Rules and Orders as, in my discretion, appear proper under the circumstances of the case.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked whether the Rules framed last year under a similar Resolution did not contain an Order forbidding any Motion for the adjournment of the House at Question time?
§ MR. SPEAKERI do not know that I can give any other answer than I have already given.