HC Deb 26 July 1859 vol 155 c479
MR. NEWDEGATE

rose to inform the Speaker that on the last division, the bell by which hon. Members should be summoned to a division was not sounded so as to be heard by a large number of hon. Members, who were consequently prevented from voting.

MR. CLAY

said, that in the Committee-room, where he was at the time, no bell rung at all. Some thirty or forty hon. Members, accidentally heard from a policeman that a division was going on, but they arrived in the House too late to vote. He supposed it would be found that "nobody" was to blame.

MR. WALTER

observed, that he could state from his own experience that while he was sitting in Committee-room No. 8, within the last fortnight, on several occasions divisions took place and no bell was rung.

MR. SPEAKER

said, that he would cause inquiry to be made into the circumstance, and he hoped the proper officer would take means in future to prevent the recurrence of such a fault.

Notice taken, that Forty Members were not present; House counted; and Forty Members not being present,

The House was adjourned at a quarter after Six o'clock.