HC Deb 07 March 1904 vol 131 cc328-30

MR. JOHN ELLIS, Member for Nottinghamshire, (Rushcliffe Division), rose in his place and asked leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, viz., "The omission of the Prime Minister to give the House a full account of the proceedings in relation to the causes and circumstances of the resignations of a number of the members of his Cabinet during last autumn, especially having regard to the statements made by them as to such causes and circumstances."

MR. GALLOWAY (Manchester, S.W.)

On a point of order, may I ask whether the Motion is not precluded by a Motion on the Paper for Wednesday to call attention to the public utterances of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other members of the Government on the fiscal question.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

On the point of order, may I ask whether, if permission were granted to the hon. Gentleman by the House to make a Motion, it would be in order to make the statement he desires on that Motion, for it seems to me, at first sight, that it would be out of order?

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member for Nottingham had shown me this Motion, and I had considerable difficulty on two points. One was the question whether this might be construed as constituting a precedent for asking to move the Adjournment of the House whenever a Minister has not made a personal explanation which forty Members consider that he should have made; and I would point out that if I admit this Motion it should not be taken as a precedent for any such ruling. As regards the other point to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred, I also considered that, and I believe there is a great deal to be said for that view as a strictly technical view. I am of opinion, however, that, as applied to the Motion for Adjournment, it would be too technical to treat that as limiting his speech. While I say this, I am not putting it as a precedent for a Motion for the Adjournment of the House when a Minister fails to make a personal explanation which some Members of the House might think it desirable that he should make. It is under the very exceptional and important circumstances that I think it right to leave it to the House to say whether they desire or not to have the Motion for the Adjournment of the House.

And, the pleasure of the House having been signified, the Motion stood over, under Standing Order No. 10, until this Evening's Sitting.