Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTI wish to ask whether an hon. Member who desires to raise a point of Order is entitled to put 203 his point at the time it arises, or whether he can be refused leave to put it until a later period?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt depends on how and when the question arises. If it should arise in the middle of Question time, it is obviously inconvenient to discuss a point of Order, and thus throw a number of Members over the hour at which questions have to be concluded. As a rule, it is more convenient to take points of Order when they arise, but during Question time it has been the habit to take them at the close of questions if there are many questions on the Paper.
§ Mr. SPEAKERYes.
§ Mr. SPEAKERNo, I do not say it cannot be done; it depends on how many questions there are, and what is the nature of the point of Order.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTThe point I wish to ask is whether there is any Standing Order whereby an hon. Member can be prevented asking a supplementary question, providing it is relevant and otherwise in order. I wanted to put a question concerning the alleged torturing to death of British subjects, and I wish to ask whether that was not of sufficient importance to justify more than one supplementary question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThese really are questions which no man can answer generally. The reply in each case must depend on the particular circumstances. The gravity of a question is not necessarily a criterion of the number of supplementary questions that should be asked in regard to it. The obscureness of an answer is a possible reason for asking a supplementary question. I would remind the hon. Member that a few years ago very few supplementary questions were permitted at all, and unless Members are a little more cautious in exercising their privilege of asking supplementary questions, it may be necessary to revert to the old system and not permit any supplementary questions without notice.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIn view of that answer, may I ask you to reinstate 204 the question on which I had intended to raise this point of Order, so that I may put the supplementary question I wished to ask?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member did ask a supplementary question, and was invited to put it down, as the question which ho asked did not refer to the particular sub-inspector to whom the question on the Paper referred.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member asked a question with regard to some other policeman who had been charged, and the Under-Secretary for India replied that if the hon. Member would put the question down, he would give him a reply.
§ Mr. SPEAKERCertainly.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTThe question is, whether, according to the judgment of the court, it was found that the victim had not been tortured at all?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe question arose from the fact that the hon. Member put to me a question some time ago about this particular case, and I gave the House the sentences which were imposed on this sub-inspector and others with regard to a particular torture charge in India. The sub-inspector appealed from the decision of the lower court, and was acquitted on appeal; and, as the House had been informed of the sentence he received in the lower court, I thought it was fair to the House to invite the hon. Member to put another question in order that it might be made known that this sub-inspector was acquitted of the charge of torture. That was why the hon. Member did me the kindness and the sub-inspector the duty of clearing his name by announcing his acquittal by the Court of Appeal. I have no other information to give the hon. Member except that which I have already given.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTWill the hon. Gentleman be so kind as to place copies of both judgments in the Library of the House?
§ Mr. MONTAGUAs soon as I receive the judgments, and, according to practice, they will be laid.