§ CAPTAIN NORTONI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, in view of the pledge to the House that a resolution would be placed upon the Paper by the Secretary of State for War which would enable a Member to raise any question which it would have been in order for him to raise upon Vote A or Vote 1 in criticising the statement made to the House by the Secretary of State for War, with reference to Army reform, whether, in spite of the wording of the resolution in question, the spirit of the pledge will be adhered to.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI believe the form of the resolution which will be submitted to the House next week does carry out, both in the letter and the spirit, the undertaking I gave.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONAm I, then, to clearly understand that all questions which could have been raised on either 969 Vote 1 or Vote A may be raised on this resolution?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Gentleman must understand that the outline of the scheme is contained in the resolution which will be submitted to the House, and can be discussed on it.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONThat does not quite fall in with what the right hon. Gentleman stated, or with what I understood—namely, that we should be able to raise any question we liked upon the resolution. I will repeat my question. Can any question which could have been raised on Vote 1 or Vote A be discussed on this resolution?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have given a full statement of my views. I cannot interfere with the discretion of the Chair.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONThen am I to understand—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! After the statement of the right hon. Gentleman the matter cannot be argued further now.