§ MR. JAMES HOPE (Sheffield, Central)said he desired the ruling of Mr. Speaker on a point of order: Yesterday he put down a Question to the President of the Board of Education for oral Answer. It was clear that it vitally concerned the business before the House to-day. The Question was not reached, having been put down too late. He had neither received an Answer privately nor had one been printed with the Votes. He desired to ask whether there was any redress under the circumstances.
§ MR. SPEAKERI do not know what the explanation is. The rule is, in case the Answers to tie Questions have not been reached, to hand them in at the Table and they will be circulated with the Votes in the morning. For what reason the ordinary rule was not followed I do not know.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Mr. RUNCIMAN,) Dewsburysaid if the Question had been reached and had been put orally he had intended to ask the hon. Gentleman to allow him to circulate the Answer with the Votes, as it was a very long one. He had given instructions that the Answer was to be circulated with the Papers that morning, and if it had not been circulated he was extremely sorry.
§ MR. JAMES HOPEsaid he was satisfied with the explanation of the right hon. Gentleman.