HC Deb 27 February 1811 vol 19 cc106-8
The Chancellor of the Exchequer

rose, pursuant to notice, to propose a Resolution that might have the effect of counteracting the inconvenience to which the House had been long subject, by the existing mode of arranging its business. As he did not wish that it should in any way affect the principle which had been considered by some gentlemen to be of great importance, namely, that of the privilege of every member to make a motion without any previous notice, if he should deem it incumbent on him to do so; his object would simply be to give precedence to the orders of the day on certain fixed days, leaving the others entirely open. As it was equally the desire of both sides of the House to find out some means of expediting the necessary business of the session, he should propose, "That in this present session of parliament all orders of the day set down in the order hook for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, shall be disposed of before the House will proceed upon any motions of which notices shall be entered in the order book."

Mr. Ponsonby

thought the object of the House would be better accomplished by a general understanding among themselves. The existing rules of practice had been adopted after long experience; and they should not be hastily altered without full and urgent proof of the superiority of the plan proposed to be substituted. He was strongly of opinion, that the Resolution would have the effect of infringing one of those points of privilege, peculiarly important to the duties of every member, and to the interests of the country.

Mr. Yorke

observed, that the ancient orders of the House were all intended for the furtherance of public business. He believed that on some former occasion the House had adopted a rule in which the principle of the Resolution was recognised, that of refusing to receive motions after a certain hour.

Mr. Wynn

ascribed the inconvenience sustained to two causes: first, to the great accumulation of business; and, secondly, to the delay in bringing forward the ordinary official business till the session was far advanced.

Mr. Bankes

conceived either of the modes proposed would attain the necessary object, but said, if a division was pressed, he would vote for the Resolution.

Lord Folkestone

objected to the Resolution, and considered that the duration of the session had been of late years too much limited.

Mr. Whitbread

declared his dissent from both of the modes proposed. The portion of the week chimed by the minister was much too large, and curtailed greatly the space allotted for the discussion of all the multifarious relations of national policy. Neither could he approve of rashly breaking in upon the old established usages of parliament. Mr. Burke had said, that forms were the entrenchments of minorities, but if the Resolution were carried, the minister, indeed, would be fortified, but his adversaries completely disarmed. It went to deprive the House of its vitality, and to make four days in the week, days of registration, to the exclusion possibly of the most momentous questions. Supposing other times to exist, and a bad minister and a bad parliament to be co-operating, they might carry all before them through the medium of the forms of the House. He therefore moved that the debate be adjourned to Monday.

After a short conversation, it was agreed to defer the consideration of the question till Tuesday next.