HC Deb 21 April 1893 vol 11 cc908-9
SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)

I beg to ask the Prime Minister a question of which I have given him private notice. It is, whether in view of his statement last night during the speech of the hon. Member for Dublin University (Mr. Carson) that he never said that the Manchester murder and the Clerkenwell explosion brought the question of the Irish Church into the range of practical politics—[Cries of "Order!"] I am in Order. I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he used the following words in his speech at Dalkeith?

*MR. SPEAKER

I think an argumentative question of that kind should not be put. It docs not refer to anything arising upon Debate in this House.

SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

Of course, Sir, if you rule that the question is out of Order I shall not put it. It is not, I assure you, an argumentative question.

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The question is not in Order. The intention is, apparently, to draw an argument from a comparison of two statements.

SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

As you have ruled that, Sir, I beg to give notice that I shall on the earliest possible opportunity call the attention of the House to this extraordinary want of—[The remainder of the sentence was not heard in the Gallery.]

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

I have not had time to refer to certain words introduced into the question, but it must not be understood by my silence that I assent to them.