HC Deb 30 April 1931 vol 251 cc1791-3
24. Mr. HARDIE

asked the Home Secretary whether, in any cases where asylum for any person or persons in this country is being considered by him, he will bring the matter to this House for decision?

Mr. SHORT

My right hon. Friend does not think he could give any such promise.

Mr. HARDIE

What would be the position of the Home Office in the case, say, of Mr. Bourbon, late of Madrid? Has the Home Office taken that into consideration?

Mr. SPEAKER

rose

Mr. KIRKWOOD

On a point of Order. I would like to ask you what is your Ruling which forbids us raising questions like this—putting a question like this quite legitimately and calmly in the House of Commons? Where can we raise this question, if not here?

Mr. SPEAKER

I allowed the question on the Paper; I did not rule it out of order.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Further on that point of Order. As to the supplementary question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Springburn (Mr. Hardie), I want to know what is your Ruling that forbids him putting that supplementary question? What is out of order?

Mr. SPEAKER

My Ruling with regard to supplementary questions is, in the first place, that they can only be put in order to elucidate the answer to a question on the Paper; and, secondly, that they should be put in proper form.

Mr. HARDIE

rose

Mr. SPEAKER

Does the hon. Member wish to raise another point of Order?

Mr. HARDIE

If you please, Sir. I desire for the time being and for the future to know this: When it comes to a question of names, when it is an ordinary, as we say, civil individual, any liberty is granted that may be asked in this House; but when it comes to a question of another individual, who is assumed by some people to be something superior, do we cease to have the same rights as in speaking of ordinary civil individuals? [Interruption.]

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Shut up, please; let the Speaker answer.

Mr. SPEAKER

I am not quite clear what the hon. Member means.

Mr. HOLFORD KNIGHT

May we take it that this House is no respecter of persons in these matters?

Mr. BROCKWAY

On the first point of Order. May I ask you whether your attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of questions relating to ex-King Alfonso have been ruled out of order by the Clerks at the Table? Is it not possible for an issue of this kind to be raised in this House?

Mr. SPEAKER

Certainly it is, but questions must be submitted to me first of all, and, according to the Rules of the House, I must rule them out, or not, as I think fit.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Further on that point of Order. If we put down a ques- tion and present it to the Clerks—and this question has got to be discussed on the Floor of the House of Commons—that here is a man who has been driven out from his country, without doubt—[Interruption]. I will allow the Speaker to put me down, but nothing else.

Mr. SPEAKER

I do not want to deal severely with the hon. Member, but I shall have to do so if he misbehaves himself.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

You can deal as severely with me as you like—

Mr. SPEAKER

Mr. Mander.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

—and you can put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Mr. SPEAKER

I must tell the hon. Member that he will have to leave the House if he does not behave himself.

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