HC Deb 06 February 1929 vol 224 cc1789-90
Captain GARRO JONES

I beg to ask leave to move the, Adjournment of the House—

Mr. KIRKWOOD

On a point of Order. I was led to understand, Mr. Speaker, that you would allow me to put my question to the Minister of Labour—"whether he is aware that the iron foundry labourers at Kirkintilloch have been for the last three weeks awaiting payment of unemployment benefit, and what is the cause of the delay?" It is possible that the right hon. Gentleman may not be able to reply forthwith. If he cannot give the information required, now, and I put a question down for tomorrow or Friday, will he then reply?

Mr. SPEAKER

I am afraid that the Minister of Labour is not here now.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

It is within the knowledge of the House and it was in your hearing that, earlier, I got far enough in my supplementary question to indicate its object. I stated my question in the best Parliamentary language possible. I apologised to the Minister of Labour for putting it, and now that the question is put, he has deliberately vacated the situation.

Mr. SPEAKER

I think there is some misunderstanding about the hon. Member's question. I thought that he was going to put a supplementary question on the matter then before the House. Obviously, the question which he began to put had nothing to do with the subject then before the House. I have received no notice that he wished to put a question on a different subject. No doubt, if the hon. Member puts his question upon the Order Paper, he will receive an answer.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Since you rose to address the House, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Labour has returned and is now in his place. With your kind permission, I will put the question to him now: "Whether he is aware that the iron foundry labourers at Kirkintilloch have been for the past three weeks awaiting payment of unemployed benefit, and what is the cause of the delay?"

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I gather, from explanations which have been made to me, that this question was the subject of a note which the hon. Member has sent to me. I have not received that note; otherwise I should have been perfectly willing to do my best to answer the question. It is about Kirkintilloch?

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Yes.

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

If the hon. Member will put a question upon the Order Paper, I will get the information. As I have not received his letter, I am unable to answer him at the moment.