MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)stated that he had on the previous day's Paper a starred Question of considerable importance and urgency with regard to the intentions of the Government respecting the rescue of Mr. Varley, now detained by brigands in Morocco. It was not reached by five minutes to three, but had not been answered in the Papers circulated with the Votes according to the Standing Order. He asked the Speaker, as this was not the first time the same thing had occurred to his Questions, whether it was not the duty of the Ministers to cause to be circulated with the Votes the Answers to Questions not reached.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURasked leave, as he was the criminal referred to, to interpose the explanation that he had failed to take into account that his hon. friend drew a distinction between two of his Questions, both postponed, one of which he had asked him not to answer according to the Standing Order, and this one, which he desired to have so answered.
§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)The same thing happened to me, Mr. Speaker.
§ MR. WHITLEYThe same thing happened to me too, Sir.
§ MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN (Kilkenny, N.)And the same thing has happened to me, Sir.
§ * MR. SPEAKERIt is obvious that this oversight has frequently happened. It is obvious also, from the Prime Minister's explanation, that the duty of Ministers to answer the Questions as prescribed in the Standing Order is not disputed.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no objection to answer now. The Answer I was prepared to give yesterday is that it is extremely inconvenient to make any statement to the House on the subject.