§ Mr. Austin HopkinsonOn a point of Order. May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, when a Question is asked verbally, and 528 the Minister drops his voice at the most important word of the reply, have we any means of securing that we shall get that reply in a form that we can hear? In the case in question, the most important point was the actual date on which it was said that certain irregularities were exposed by the officers concerned. Turning upon the actual date is the question whether the Secretary of State has been misleading the House on this affair or not. If the date were what I believe it to he an information had already been laid as to the irregularities.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a point of Order. If the hon. Member did not hear, he can read it in HANSARD.
§ Mr. HopkinsonWe have the privilege of asking supplementary questions to elucidate facts and, by dropping his voice, the right hon. Gentleman deprived me of that opportunity.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is an insinuation against the Minister, and Members must not make unworthy insinuations. I might inform the hon. Member that a former Speaker, when a Member has been too persistent in asking supplementaries, has refused to call him.
§ Commander Locker-LampsonI heard the date.
§ Commander King-HallI was sitting next to the hon. Member for Mossley (Mr. Hopkinson) and, in fairness to the right hon. Baronet, I must say that I heard the date.