§ 42. Mr. HIGHAMasked the Minister of Munitions who is responsible for the fact that the British fuse No. 100, Mark I, used for the 18-pounder high explosive, contains over thirty-two ounces of bronze against four and a quarter ounces in the French fuse used for the soixante-quinze; and if he is aware that the British is so solid as to enable the enemy to pick up two pounds of bronze from every shell fired by British troops, or enough to make eight of his own fuses?
§ Mr. TENNANTI hope my hon. Friend will not put this question; it is not considered in the public interest that an answer should be given.
§ Mr. HIGHAMDoes my right hon. Friend say that he cannot answer the first part of the question or the second part of the question? If it is the first, which is as to the name, will he take into consultation the makers of munitions who are making this shell all over the country?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman has already heard that it is contrary to the public interest to give the information, and he should not press the question further.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMAm I to understand that you rule that an hon. Member is not entitled to press for an answer to a question when a Member on the Treasury Bench says that it is not in the public interest to answer that question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERCertainly.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMI do not, of course, for a moment dispute your ruling, but I want to be quite clear about the point; it is so important. If, in the opinion and judgment of a Member, a question on the 1489 Paper is in no way likely to give information to the enemy, not the slightest, as in this case, do you rule that he cannot ask that question if the Minister refuses to answer?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is now putting quite a different question. The question which he originally put to me was this: If a Member of the Government says in his place that to answer a particular question would be against the interests of the country, I certainly then hold that it is improper to ask the question again, and the Minister should not be pressed. A Minister is entitled to make that answer; he makes it on his own responsibility, and that responsibility the House and myself accept.
§ Mr. TENNANTMay I be allowed to say one word on this question? I would ask the House to read the last three lines of the question and then to judge whether it is or is not in the interests of the public that an answer should be given.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is a matter in each case for the Minister himself to decide, and if the Minister says that it is not in the interests of the country to reply to a particular question I will not support any hon. Member who presses it further.
§ Sir A MARKHAMI beg to give notice that I shall call attention to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Sowerby Division (Mr. Higham) on the Motion for the Adjournment.