§ Commander BELLAIRSMay I ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker, in reference to the practice of putting Supplementary Questions on matters of grave foreign policy? I apologise for not having given notice of this questior, but my question arises out of the number of Supplementary Questions which have been put about China to-day. I want to know, has it not been the general practice of this House, either through the good sense of the House, or through Ministers refusing to answer Supplementary Questions, or through restrictions imposed by Mr. Speaker himself, to curtail severely the number of questions asked on foreign policy? When Mr. Balfour was the Leader of the Opposition, he laid down that no Supplementary Questions on foreign policy should be answered. I know that the President of the Board of Education used to answer these questions, but at that time there were no grave questions of foreign policy. When Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was the Leader of the House he affirmed the old rule, and subsequently he said that he had stated the matter too broadly. I submit, Mr. Speaker that there ought to be some restrictions on the number of Supplementary Questions put in regard to foreign affairs. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am certainly not aware of there ever having been a rule to prevent or to limit Supplementary Questions. The remedy lies, in the first instance, with the Minister, who is not hound to answer any questions which he thinks would be prejudicial to the public interest. Of course it rests with the Speaker to intervene if he thinks the right has been abused, but I think the matter must be left there. Hon. Members have always had the libercy of putting a certain number of Supplementary Questions.
§ Mr. CLYNESIf it be a fact that on this side of the House Supplementary Questions have been put on the subject of China, is it not also a fact that many Supplementary Questions have been put from the other side of the House on the subject of Russia?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI feel it my duty not to see the pot or the kettle.