HC Deb 15 June 1917 vol 94 cc1322-4

Order for Committee read.

[Mr. SPEAKER left the Chair.]

Mr. BILLING

In view of the fact that there is no one in the Chair, perhaps I may be able to address the Leader of the House. Before we proceed with business I would like to ask the Leader of the House—

[Mr. WHITLEY took the Chair.]

Mr. BILLING

Before we proceed I would like to ask—

The CHAIRMAN

Order, order.

Mr. BILLING

I would like to ask—

HON. MEMBERS

Order, order.

Mr. BILLING

Before we proceed with other business (Interruption)—

The CHAIRMAN

Order, order ! I call upon the hon. Member to resume his seat.

Mr. BILLING

I want to ask the Leader of the House—

HON. MEMBERS

Order, order! Sit down!

Mr. BILLING

In view of the action of the Chair, which makes it impossible for me to raise this question for the simple reason—

The CHAIRMAN

The hon. Member must resume his seat when the Chairman is standing.

Mr. BILLING

On a point of Order. I was anxious to address a question to the Leader of the House at the moment Mr. Speaker vacated the chair to proceed with other business. In these circumstances I presume I am in order in addressing the Leader of the House now. If I am not in order in addressing the Leader of the House now, I must refuse to give way on this point.

The CHAIRMAN

The lion. Member is not in order. We are now in Committee on certain business.

Mr. BILLING

I protest against this House proceeding in Committee with other business until we have had an undertaking from the Leader of the House

HON. MEMBERS

Order, order!

The CHAIRMAN

Does the hon. Member decline to respect the authority of the Chair?

Mr. BILLING

I protest to the House. The authority of the Chair has been abused so often in my case that I must refuse to respect it. [Interruption.] I protest against this House proceeding in Committee until we have had an undertaking from the Leader of the House that an early opportunity will be given to debate the question of aircraft reprisals.

The CHAIRMAN

The hon. Member must resume his seat. I call upon the hon. Member to resume his seat.

Mr. BILLING

May I have a reply from the Leader of the House?

The CHAIRMAN

I call upon the hon. Member to resume his seat.

Mr. BILLING

May I have a reply from the Leader of the House before this House proceeds with business?

The CHAIRMAN

If the hon. Member declines to respect the authority of the Chair, then it is my duty to take other steps.

Mr. BILLING

I am sorry if the other steps have to be taken, but in view of the exigencies—

The CHAIRMAN

I call the attention of the Committee to the action of the hon. Member for Hertfordshire in declining to respect the authority of the Chair, and I call upon him to withdraw.

Mr. BILLING

I ask the Leader of the House whether he is prepared to make some statement so as to reassure—

HON. MEMBERS

Name, name! Sit down!

The CHAIRMAN

Does the hon. Member persist in declining to respect the authority of the Chair?

Mr. BILLING

I must ask the Prime Minister; I must ask the Leader of the House—

HON. MEMBERS

Chair, chair! Withdraw!

Mr. BILLING

While I have the utmost respect for your ruling, Mr. Whitley, I feel that I am not doing my duty to my Constituents and to this House unless I press this question.

The CHAIRMAN

I call upon the hon. Member to withdraw from the Committee.

Mr. BILLING

If that is your ruling, I have done all that I can in this matter. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]

The CHAIRMAN

The hon. Member is obliged to withdraw immediately when called upon.

Mr. BILLING

rose—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!" and "Name!"]

The CHAIRMAN

Order, order!

Mr. BILLING

Am I entitled to ask the Leader of the House before I withdraw—[Interruption.]

The CHAIRMAN

If the hon. Member still persists, it is my duty to take further and more extreme steps.

Mr. BILLING

That is up to you. [Interruption.]

The CHAIRMAN

The hon. Member is ordered to withdraw from the Committee.

The hon. Member thereupon withdrew.

Bill considered in Committee.