§ SIR BALDWYN LEIGHTONasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in proposing to take Morning Sittings at this early date, he will undertake to secure the opportunity for honourable Members having the first place on the Notice Paper for those days to bring on such Notice by keeping a House for them?
MR. GLADSTONEI think the hon. Gentleman put this Question under a misapprehension as to the power of the Government in the matter. I have no hesitation in saying, on the authority of my noble Friend (Lord Richard Grosve- 1168 nor) and from my own experience, that if we were to undertake to keep a House for hearing the Motions of Members, which hon. Gentlemen are not willing to come down and listen to, we could not do it. What I would say is this—that if there be a case in which general interest is felt, I have no doubt a House would be kept; but if hon. Members should accidentally fail to secure a House, then, in the event of our obtaining a larger share of the time of the House than we require, the matter could be brought before the attention of the House.