§ MR. STEVENSONasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will take into consideration during the Recess the necessity of amending the Rules of the House so as to give increased facilities for the consideration of Bills of great public importance which are in charge of private Members, either by the selection 1757 of such Bills by a vote of the House, or otherwise, so that the Bills thus selected shall have precedence of other Bills in the hands of private Members?
MR. GLADSTONESir, my hon. Friend has drawn the attention of the House, by this Question, to a matter which is of very great importance, but of a difficulty, perhaps, equal to its importance. It is, I think, a suggestion that some organization and machinery should be provided by which a preference may be established in favour of particular measures deemed to be urgent among the measures in the hands of independent Members, and, of course, more or less to the prejudice of other measures in the hands of independent Members. That is a subject of great importance and considerable delicacy, and one in regard to which it is obvious that there ought to be no habitual interference by the Executive Government. Whether the Executive Government ought to take the initiative in making the recommendation I do not know; it is a matter on which I do not give a positive opinion. There is much to be said in favour of the view suggested by my hon. Friend. I believe the practice of Foreign Legislatures is to some considerable extent in support of that view; and it is a matter which the Government will endeavour to consider, though I cannot absolutely—such are the difficulties that surround the question—give a positive answer as to the results.
§ MR. PARNELLasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was aware that under the proposal of the hon. Member in all probability no Irish Bill would ever have an opportunity of being brought forward?
§ MR. NEWDEGATEasked whether the right hon. Gentleman contemplated, as the Representative of the Government, that the selection of the Bills should be committed to the House itself or reserved to the Government?
MR. GLADSTONEThe one thing I have said which is clear—and there are many things I have said which are not clear—about the matter is that the Government ought to have nothing to do with it in the event of a selection being established. I will also say, in answer to the hon. Member for the City of Cork (Mr. Parnell), that he seems to think there is some positive plan in view. There is no plan in view. I may say 1758 that no plan could for a moment be entertained by this House which would not be perfectly impartial with reference to the proceedings of the different parts of the House.