HC Deb 10 June 1920 vol 130 cc612-3
Mr. GWYNNE

May I ask your ruling, Mr. Speaker, on a matter which was referred to at Question Time yesterday. The Adjournment of the House was moved by my hon. and gallant Friend (Lieut.-Colonel Croft). In the course of the discussion you said—I am quoting from the OFFICIAL REPORT— That matter, I understand, is now being investigated by a Select Committee of the House. It could not, therefore, be discussed by the House while it is before the Committee."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 9th June, 1920; Col. 398, Vol. 130.] What I desire to ask your ruling upon, if you will be good enough to give it to me—for this raises a very important matter—is whether the ruling of yesterday refers to matters which have been sent to the Select Committee on National Expenditure, which is a Committee of recent origin, with very wide powers and a roving commission, to deal at any time with any subject the Committee may think proper, and which is brought at any time before the House; and whether, if your ruling go forth, that in future this House may be precluded from discussing any matter concerning any Department while it is before that Committee, the Select Committee on National Expenditure have a right to consider items which come under expenditure. I suggest to you, Sir, that your ruling is not really to be interpreted from yesterday's discussion that these very important matters may not be discussed, for that would be against the interests and privileges of this House! May I respectfully ask you to make it clear that your ruling does not apply to the roving commission which the Select Committee on National Expenditure has at the present time—and rightly—into the proceedings of this House?

Mr. SPEAKER

Each question stands upon its own merits. I laid down the general principle upon which the House has always acted.

Mr. GWYNNE

The question appears to be a very general one, and that is what I ask—that you should say, as you do now, that each question is to be judged on its merits, and that your decision should not be taken to refer to any matter which has been referred to the Select Committee on National Expenditure?

Mr. PALMER

In point of fact, is it not the case that matters specifically referred to this Committee are precluded from discussion, and that ordinary matters, which are not referred specifically to any Committee, are not precluded?

Mr. SPEAKER

I do not think that it will be advisable to lay down any general rule in advance. We have to take each question as it arises. It was clear from what the right hon. Baronet (Sir F. Banbury) said that the matter referred to has been for some time before the Committee, which is particularly inquiring into it. It was, therefore, obviously not a question which the House would desire to discuss, or could possibly discuss, while it was the subject of investigation and discussion by the Committee.

Mr. GWYNNE

Then I take it that your ruling referred only to yesterday's proceedings, and not generally?

Mr. SPEAKER

What I have said I have said!