§ SIR HENRY HOAREsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government propose, during the next Session of Parliament, to bring in a Bill to repeal the Clause of the Representation of the People Act, 1867, providing for the representation of minorities?
MR. GLADSTONESir, Her Majesty's Government have not taken into consideration whether they should make any proposal to the House upon the subject of the clause in the Representation of the People Act providing for the representation of minorities. It is well known to my hon. Friend, as to all the world, that neither all the Gentlemen on this Bench, nor, I think upon any other Bench in the House of Commons, were entirely agreed in their views upon that clause. Whether all my Colleagues retain the opinions they expressed I do not know, but I may own that I still retain my opinions on the subject, and they have certainly been rather strengthened than weakened by all that has since occurred.