§ Sir G. SCOTT ROBERTSONI desire to ask for a ruling, Mr. Speaker, on the privileges and limitations of Members in asking supplementary questions, as uncertainty seems to exist on the subject. Is there any fixed maximum number of supplementary questions permissible after the official reply of a Minister? Is there any definite limit to the number permis- 42 sible to one particular Member during the whole Question Time of a single day, as is the case with notice questions? Is there any special method of giving precedence to different Members who may be anxious to interrogate a Minister in this way, and can any broad rule be laid down as to the scope and manner of such supplementary questions, seeing that the gist of none of them can be known until it has been heard?
§ Sir A. MARKHAMMay I call your attention to the fact, Mr. Speaker, that some years ago you gave a ruling in my case that having had four shots one could not go past that point?
Mr. SPEAKERI think that what I have to say to the hon. Member who raised the question will not be inconsistent with the answer which I seem to have given on a previous occasion to the hon. Member for Mansfield. The answer to all the hon. Member's questions is in the negative. I think I ought to remind him that all supplementary questions are out of order and irregular. I will read to him Standing Order No. 9, which deals with questions. It states:—
"Notices of questions shall be given by Members in writing to the Clerk at the Table without reading them viva vocein the House, unless the consent of the Speaker to any particular question has been previously obtained."
The hon. Member will therefore see that all supplementary questions are irregular and are not provided for at all in any Standing Order. It is entirely a matter of grace. My predecessors have ruled somewhat differently as to supplementary questions. My immediate predecessor was very strict in regard to them; he would hardly allow any supplementary questions at all. During my reign I have been rather more lax, and I must take the praise or the blame, as the case may be, for what has occurred. I may say generally that the object of supplementary questions is to elucidate any ambiguity in the reply of a Minister or to seek for some further information if he can give it; but supplementary questions should not be put, and ought not to be put, especially at such times as these, to embarrass a Minister or to lead him to give an answer in a hurry which at a subsequent time he might be sorry that he gave. I think I must ask the House to trust me. I will give as much freedom as I possibly can, but at the same time there must be some limits.