§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLcomplained that the Answers to twenty-five Questions put down last Thursday by Irish Members, but not actually asked through the absence of the hon. Members, had not been circulated with the Votes. He asked what the rule of the House was in that matter.
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid that if, owing to the efflux of time, a Question which appeared on the Paper was not asked, it was the business of the Minister to whom it was addressed to hand the reply he would have given in to the proper quarter, when it would appear, in due course, in the Votes circulated to Members.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWhat remedy have we if that is not done?
§ MR. SPEAKERI am afraid I cannot say what the remedy is. The rule is clear and it certainly should be followed.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDasked whether the rule applied to Questions not answered for any reason—whether the efflux of time, the absence of the Minister, or the absence of the hon. Member in whose name the Question stood.
§ MR. SPEAKERreplied that he could not say, on the spur of the moment, whether the rule applied in all those 793 cases, but obviously that would be the better course to follow, because an hon. Member might be absent through no fault of his own. It would be for the general convenience of the House if the rule were made generally applicable.
§ SIR HENRY FOWLERpointed out that the rule clearly laid it down that in the case of any Question distinguished by an asterisk which had not been answered by five minutes to three, the Minister should cause the Answer to be printed and circulated with the Votes.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURthought there was no doubt whatever that the meaning of the rule was as had been indicated by the hon. and learned Member for Water-ford, and that, if the Question was not asked for any reason, it should be answered by a printed reply in the Votes. He believed that so far as last Thursday was concerned the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary scrupulously followed the rule, as all the Nationalist Members who had Questions down were absent. He much regretted it was not done by some other Minister. He did not think he himself was guilty.
§ MR. MACVEAGHOh, yes, your Answers were not circulated.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think that is the case.
§ MR. MACVEAGHOh, yes, a Question about motoring on Sundays.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think the hon. Member is mistaken.
§ MR. MACVEAGHOh, no.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThen if it be the case I greatly regret it, and I will take care that the lapse shall be remedied.
§ MR. WALTER LONGsaid that in the case of every Question that had been addressed to him and had not been asked across the floor of the House, for whatever reason except that of postponement by an hon. Member, the Answer had been handed in at the Table for circulation with the Votes, and, so far as he knew, there had never been a single case of omission.