§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)drew attention to a Question on the Paper standing in the name of the hon. Member for North Antrim, asking the Home Secretary if he was in a position to make a statement on the precedence of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and contended that, although it was not actually beyond the practice of this House, yet it was a most objectionable departure from ordinary Parliamentary usage. The question did not come within the province of the Home Secretary, except in a technical sense.
§ * MR. SPEAKERsaid the Home Secretary himself could take objection to the Question when it was put to him.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLadded that it was within the hon. Member's own knowledge, as he had raised the question on the Vote for the Irish Secretary's salary. The hon. Member was the Parliamentary Secretary of the Chief Secretary, and it was a put-up Question between the two.
§ * MR. SPEAKERsaid the hon. Member was now making more or less a personal attack.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLOh no, Sir.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member's first objection seems to be that the Question has been addressed to the wrong Minister. That is a matter that can be dealt with by the Minister himself. The other objection is apparently that the hon. Member who has given notice of the Question is Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister who is asked the Question. As to that, I dare say that the hon. Member is quite right in saying that it is unusual. It is unusual because it is not usually found to be necessary. If an hon. Member puts such a Question down he is perfectly within his rights.
§ MR. WILLIAM MOORE (Antrim, N.)This is a mare's nest. I am Parlimentary Secretary to the Chief Secretary, and my Question is addressed to the Home Secretary. I may add that I am not surprised at the hon. Member attacking me in my absence.
§ * MR. SPEAKERIf I had known what the hon. Member's point was I should have stopped him sooner.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLAs a personal explanation, I think I was more than justified in bringing the matter forward, inasmuch as the hon. Member on 23rd July actually raised this point on the Vote for the Chief Secretary's salary.