§ MR. JEFFREYS (Hampshire, N.)I beg to ask the hon. Member for the South Molton Division of Devonshire, whether he intends to move the Amendment to the Address standing in his name affecting a distinguished general officer.
§ MR. LAMBERT (Devonshire, South Molton)was not in his place to answer the question.
§ MR. DAVID THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)On a point of order, may I ask whether, when an hon. Member places a notice of Motion or Amendment on the Paper, unless there is very strong evidence to the contrary, it should not be assumed that his intention to move it is serious if the opportunity to do so arises
§ * MR. SPEAKERThere is no point of order involved in the question. The rule is that a question may be asked of any unofficial Member in reference to any proceeding that may stand in his name upon the Paper.
§ MR. DAVID THOMASIs not the Question on the Paper rather a reflection on the hon. Member for South Molton?
§ MR. SPEAKERI do not so regard it. That is a matter upon which any Member can form his own opinion.
§ MR. JEFFREYSMay I say, Sir, that I wrote to the hon. Member for South Molton yesterday, as I could not find him in the House, and gave him notice that I was going to ask him this question. Arising out of this matter, may I ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that the Amendment affects a distinguished general officer and the discipline of the Army, he will endeavour to make arrangements for its discussion at the earliest possible moment.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.The arrangement of Amendments to the Address does not depend upon me, but I have to observe that this Amendment stands high among the Amendments on the Paper, and I understand that the hon. Gentleman the Member for South Molton, though he has had the opportunity of rising, has not yet risen to move it. I think it is unfortunate that an Amendment of this kind should be placed on the Paper and then not moved. It should either be moved or withdrawn.