§ Mr. W. THORNEMay I ask, Mr. Speaker, whether you are going to adhere to your previous decision with regard to starred questions during this Parliament? You will remember, Sir, that some time ago you decided that no Member should put down more than three starred questions.
§ Mr. SPEAKERYes, I certainly intend to adhere to that decision of my predecessor.
Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGANOn a point of Order. Is it competent for an hon. Member of this House to put down a Private Notice question when there is already printed on the Notice Paper a question not for oral answer, to be replied to by the same Minister on the same subject?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNo. If such a question come to my attention, I will disallow it, as an attempt to anticipate a question of which notice has already been given.
Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGANMay I call your attention, Sir, to Question No. 12, not for oral answer, or the Paper to-day?
§ Mr. SPEAKERMy attention had not been called to that question.
§ Mr. PRINGLEOn a point of Order. I desire to ask whether there is any limitation on the right of a Member to ask Private Notice questions before a quarter to four o'clock?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNo, I think not, except the question of anticipating a question of which notice has already been given.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIf an hon. Member, who is unable to be present, put down a question not for oral answer, does that preclude another hon. Member who is present from, putting a Private Notice question on the same subject?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think the handing in of a question at the Table, and its appearance on the Votes for the day, constitutes notice to the House.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIn order to avoid any misunderstanding, is it not the fact that I gave notice of my question long before it appeared on the Paper?
§ Mr. SPEAKERYes. I received notice from the right hon. Gentleman, I think, two days ago at least.
Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGANOn a point of Order. That being so, Question No. 12 not for oral answer, on the Paper to-day, must have been given in three days ago, and does not that preclude a Private Notice question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe unstarred question could not have been handed in before yesterday.
§ Mr. PRINGLEMay I have your ruling, Sir, upon this point:—Whether the rule regarding Private Notice questions—which you will only allow to be put after a quarter to four o'clock if they are of an urgent character—does not apply in the case of a Private Notice question which, although not urgent, may be put before a quarter to four o'clock, if other questions end before that time?
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWith all deference, Sir, may I ask if this really matters?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member for Penistone (Mr. Pringle) is right in his contention in that respect.