§ Mr. FernyhoughOn a point of order. You, Mr. Speaker, will remember that I was in the middle of a supplementary question to Question No. 12 when you interrupted me. At that stage, I did not think that I had said anything, and I am now satisfied that I had not said anything, which was out of order. You said that the point would arise on Question No. 35. I rose repeatedly when Question No. 35 was being dealt with, hoping that I would be able to put my supplementary question on Question No. 35 which you had suggested was relevant when I was trying to put it on Question No. 12.
I should like you, Mr. Speaker, to look at HANSARD tomorrow and to tell me where I was out of order.
§ Mr. SpeakerI can tell the hon. Gentleman at once. The Question on which he sought first to ask a supplementary question was on food. He wished to ask a supplementary question on the increase in the price of beer. Question No. 35 was about beer. It is not in order for an hon. Member, and it would be unfair if the Chair allowed an hon. Member, to anticipate another hon. Gentleman's Question by a supplementary question.
§ Mr. FernyhoughI have suggested, Mr. Speaker, that you might look at HANSARD, because Question No. 12 dealt with every increase which has been approved by the Ministry this year. I wished merely to ask about an increase which had been approved by the Ministry. Therefore, I cannot see that I could possibly have been out of order.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewis rose—
§ Mr. SpeakerI do not need at this moment the help of the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis).
If the hon. Gentleman the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Fernyhough) made a point about food in general, it would 441 have been all right. If he made a point about beer, he was anticipating the Question which an hon. Gentleman had taken the trouble to table.
§ Mr. Arthur LewisFurther to that point of order. With great respect, I think that my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Fernyhough) is right on the first point. But, even if he fails on that, surely he must be in order on the second point. While no promise was given, there was at least an inference which was understood by all of my hon. Friends present that my hon. Friend would be allowed to get in on my Question No. 35. With great respect, you, Mr. Speaker, knew then that his question was to do with beer and that Question No. 35 was to do with beer. It was obviously thought that he would be able to put his question.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sure that the hon. Member for Jarrow is grateful to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) for coming to his defence. There is no absolute right to put a supplementary question. But I would have called the hon. Member for Jarrow had I noticed him.
§ Mr. WoodburnWould you clear up one point Mr. Speaker? Are you ruling that beer is not a food? Some people regard it as a liquid form of food.
§ Mr. SpeakerIf the right hon. Gentleman had been here at Question Time, he would have heard me refuse to rule on this very erudite question.