HC Deb 13 July 1917 vol 95 cc2290-2
32. Mr. OUTHWAITE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in order that an opinion may be formed as to the relative care exercised by the British and French staffs in the preservation of soldiers' lives, he will state what proportion of the total casualties on the Western front since the 1st of July last have been suffered by the British forces?

Mr. MACPHERSON

The French do not publish any information as to their casualties, so that no comparison is possible.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

Are we to understand that the War Office is so regardless of a million casualties in a year that they have not ascertained how they compare with French casualties in the same period?

Mr. MACPHERSON

My hon. Friend must not assume that the War Office is so casual in regard to this matter.

34. Mr. OUTHWAITE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, during the past year, the lives of French airmen have been sacrificed on the Western front in the same extent as have the lives of British airmen; and, if not, can he give any explanation?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I have no information whether the casualties among British airmen have been greater than in the French Air Service. If it is the fact, it would be accounted for by the greater intensity of the fighting in the air on the British front.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether any French Government or Commander-in-Chief would be permitted to sanction such losses as have taken place in our Army? It is asking them to commit suicide. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh, Oh!"] Of course, you do not care how many are killed!

Mr. SPEAKER

If the hon. Member takes the opportunity of making offensive insinuations, I shall have to call upon him to withdraw. I warn him that the House will not stand offensive statements of that kind.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

On a point of Order. I wish to point out to you, Sir, that on each occasion on which I have asked questions relating to our casualities at the front, I have been shouted down in this House more or less by hon. Members. I wish to ask you why you do not protect me against them?

Mr. SPEAKER

I will never raise a finger to protect the hon. Member so long as he makes the insinuations that he does.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

Those insinuations were called forth by the action which has been repeated again and again by hon. Members when I have asked questions relating to casualties at the front.

Mr. SPEAKER

That does not bear out in the least my recollection. My recollection is that the hon. Member has been very considerately treated, and, if it were not that on every possible occasion he takes the opportunity of making these vile insinuations against honourable men who are serving their country to the best of their ability, the House would never think of shouting him down.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

I made no insinuations against honourable men serving their country. I am trying to do something to save the lives of honourable men who are being slaughtered.

Mr. SPEAKER

called on Mr. Rowlands.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

May I point out that I have another question?

Mr. SPEAKER

I do not propose to call the hon. Member.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

Will you inform me what right you possess to prevent me putting a question which I have on the Paper?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member has shown that he does not know how to behave himself properly when he does ask a question. Therefore I do not propose on this occasion to call him.

Commander WEDGWOOD

I am sorry to have to interfere, but I think the hon. Member opposite has a point of view which it is only right the House should hear. I entirely disassociate myself from his suggestions, but at the same time we must realise that people outside wonder whether—

Mr. SPEAKER

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman rising to a point of Order or making a speech?

Commander WEDGWOOD

Rising to a point of Order.

Mr. SPEAKER

What is the point of Order?

Commander WEDGWOOD

It is that I think you ought to protect even isolated Members of Parliament who put forward unpopular views.

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member has no business to put forward what the hon. and gallant Gentleman calls unpopular views as interjections in reply to the answers which are given to his question. He is entitled to put questions or he is entitled to make a speech. If he made a speech, making direct charges in this House, I should not stop him; but what I object to is that in an undertone, which is just contrived to reach the Gallery above, and so get into the papers, he makes charges of this kind when he has no business to interfere at all.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

I did not make a retort, as you state, in reply to the answer; I made a retort in reply to interjections coming from here.

Mr. SPEAKER

I do not know what part of the House the hon. Member was addressing, but I think he probably had in his mind the Reporters' Gallery.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

That is untrue.

Mr. HOGGE

For my own satisfaction I want to know, with regard to not calling Question 35, do I understand that when any question is put on the Paper and you do not care to call it, that that is within your power?

Mr. SPEAKER

If an hon. Member cannot behave himself, I do not propose to call his question on that day, which will give him time for reflection.

Mr. HOGGE

I quite understand what he said. All I want to establish is that what you are doing now is because of the conduct of the hon. Member. It is not that upon any occasion apart from that you have the right to stop a question being asked?

Mr. SPEAKER

Certainly not. I have never stopped a question except those put in unparliamentary form. Those I have stopped. After all, there must be a good deal of give-and-take in the House. If it is all taking and no giving, I think it does not conform to the ordinary practice of the House.