§ MR. T. DUNCOMBEsaid, he wished 1070 to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether is the intention of Government to proceed with the Appropriation of Seats Bill on Monday, and if so, whether they intend to propose any new Borough Constituencies, or mean to leave it to the House to fill up the vacuum that is created in the Bill by the rejection of the Metropolitan Constituencies? There was also another question which he wished to ask with reference to Gloucester or Wakefield. He some time ago called the attention of the House to its asserting a power which he maintained it did not possess, and stated that, unless they were prepared to bring in a Bill to punish a corrupt constituency or alter its bounds, they had no right to suspend the writ. He wished to know if the right hon. Gentleman were prepared to bring in a Bill for any of those purposes?
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, with regard to the last question, that it was not the intention of Government to propose any measure with respect to the boroughs to which the hon. Member had referred. The course which had been taken had been taken deliberately, and so far as the Government were concerned, they intended to withhold the issue of the writ during the present Parliament. With respect to the other question, he had already stated that Government would proceed with the Bill for the appropriation of the four seats on Monday; and the course which they intended to take upon it would be best stated when the House went into Committee on the Bill.
§ MR. T. DUNCOMBE—Then I give notice that I shall move on Monday that within seven days Mr. Speaker make out new writs for the City of Gloucester and the Borough of Wakefield.