§ Commander BELLAIRSI desire to raise some points of Order in regard to questions on the Paper, and I apologise for not having given notice. The first is whether there is not an honourable understanding that Members who put down questions involving serious charges against the military forces and the police should verify those questions, as far as they are able, before they put them on the Paper. The second is in regard to the number of questions. You, Mr. Speaker, cut down the number of questions from eight to four and subsequently to three per Member. May I ask your attention to Question 68 on the Paper, which is followed by Questions 69 and 70, all put by the same hon. Member. 643 Question 68 deals with, I believe, 22 separate events in Ireland, and I submit that that is an abuse of the privilege conferred on Members of asking questions.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHAs the hon. Gentleman has pointed to a question in my name, I may say, in the first place, that he has not had the courtesy to give me notice that he intended to raise the question. May I say that all the points embodied in Question 68 have reference to one particular subject, namely, outrages committed on women and children in Ireland by the forces of the Crown. I submit it is much more to the convenience of the House that all these questions should be put in one and an answer given at the finish, rather than that each question should be put separately, because otherwise they would occupy more space and take up more of the time of the House.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not think that the hon. Member seriously intended that all the points embodied in Question 68 should be answered seriatim. I take it that his object was to call attention to the grievances which he raises, and probably the answer would have been that the particulars would be tabulated in some report and laid on the Table of the House. I do not think I can control the length of questions which hon. Members desire to put down.
§ Commander BELLAIRSMay I raise this point? Very serious charges are involved in these questions. Is it not an honourable obligation on every Member of the House to verify questions which contain serious charges before putting them on the Paper?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is a well understood rule that no Member should put a question down unless he is satisfied that, primâ facie, the matter which it raises is true. It is impossible for every Member to satisfy himself as to all the facts of the case. If he could do that it would not be necessary to ask the question. All that he can reasonably be expected to do is to take steps to satisfy himself that, primâ facie, there is good reason for asking the question.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHAll the statements embodied in this particular question were taken from the public newspapers, and 644 none of them have been contradicted. I have received confirmation from private citizens of them and I am therefore perfectly satisfied of their bonâ fides.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe latter point may be good evidence, but I do not think the first is.