HC Deb 18 July 1911 vol 28 c874
Mr. WEDGWOOD

asked the Prime Minister whether the prospective addition to the numbers of the Upper House will consist chiefly of landlords; and whether he will give an opportunity to the House to discuss the Resolution standing in the name of the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme?

Mr. HAROLD SMITH

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask, having regard to the hon. Gentleman's obvious anxiety not to be excluded from the list, whether the right hon. Gentleman will not recommend him for a peerage at once?

Mr. RAFFAN

May I ask, Sir, whether an offensive remark of that kind with regard to an hon. Member is in order?

Mr. WEDGWOOD

On the point of Order. Are we to have an answer?

Mr. RAFFAN

I put the point of Order seriously.

Mr. SPEAKER

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is going to give an answer.

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The first part of the question appears to deal with a hypothetical situation. The answer to the second part is in the negative.

Mr. WEDGWOOD

May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as representing the Prime Minister, whether he will see that these appointments are not, as has been suggested in the Press, drawn entirely from the landlord class in order that we may have all points of view represented?

Mr. LANSBURY

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House any assurance that the Government will have any guarantees from the gentlemen to be made peers that they will vote straight?