§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, having regard to the numerous Bills now before this House dealing with various statutes and matters relating to Parliamentary Elections, and proposing amendments in the laws regulating elections in the United Kingdom, the Government will consent to the Second Heading of all such Bills pro formâ, with the view of their being-considered by a Select Committee?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)As these Bills involve matters of principle as well as of detail, Her Majesty's Government do not think that they can give effect to the proposal of the hon. Gentleman that the second readings of the Bills should be taken without debate.