§ Major HORE-BELISHAMay I, Mr. Speaker, with great deference, ask your ruling on a matter which affects the rights of Members to cross question Ministers on a matter of importance to this House? It may be within your recollection that I submitted at the Table a question relating to the prolonged absence from this House of the Solicitor-General, and that that question was ruled out of order upon the ground that it had previously been put. I have looked through the records, and I can find no evidence that the question has been put, at any rate, since the Easter Recess. As the matter is one which concerns a continuing grievance in a matter of great constitutional importance, I shall be very grateful to you if you would give a ruling as to what period of time, in the case of a continuing grievance, must elapse when a question has been put upon the subject before it can be put again?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI cannot lay down any hard and fast rule, and I must be guided by the facts of each particular case. The hon. Member in this case was informed that in a fortnight's time he might repeat his question.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it not the case that, during the Bonar Law Government, a question as to the absence of the Lord Advocate was put every week?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think this question has been put every week up to a certain point.
§ Mr. HOGGEIf we are to be limited to periods as you suggest now, Mr. Speaker, that my hon. Friend should put down his question in a fortnight's time and as that is a period of a month, may I draw your attention to the fact that the Solicitor-General, who is not in this House, made an important speech in Leeds in which he referred to the organisation of the British Fascisti, and he said the Law Officers of the Crown were going into the question carefully with a view to deciding whether a prosecution should take place, and if that Member of the Government is not here, are we not to be allowed, as and when we like, as Members of this House, to put down questions on the Paper to responsible Members of the Government to secure his presence?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am afraid the hon. Member must not impose upon me the necessity of reading all the speeches made in the country by Ministers. I have dealt with the matter concerned, and I can give no further answer. I must decline to lay down any hard and fast rule. My endeavour is to give equal opportunities to all Members of the House.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAMay I submit to you. Mr. Speaker, that it has always been within the competence of Ministers to refer Members to previous answers and many questions are put several times, and it imposes a great additional burden upon Members if we have to search through the records. The advantage of putting these questions is obvious. Yesterday I put down a question regarding the non-appointment of the Paymaster-General, and this morning I see that one has been appointed.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member seems to be substituting himself for the Prime Minister and for myself.