MR. BENTINCKsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to propose, during the present Session, any alteration of the Standing Orders with reference to Morning Sittings, and to the practice of counting out the House, especially on those occasions when the House reassembles at nine o'clock after a Morning Sitting?
MR. GLADSTONESir, our attention has not, up to the present, been given to the subject of Morning Sittings; but I think our opinion generally is that the practice of recent years has been satisfactory, and that it would not be wise to alter the hours at which the House meets on Wednesdays. We have not observed any sufficient reason for taking that step. The usage first introduced by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Buckinghamshire (Mr. Disraeli) of meeting from two to seven on other days when a Morning Sitting is to be held, has been a very decided improvement on the old practice of meeting; from twelve to four, and resuming at six. With respect to the subject of counting out the House, all I can say is that I agree so far with the apparent intention of the hon. Member's Question that I think the matter will require to remain under the vigilant observation of the House and of the Government. The laws of political economy command us all, whether we will or not; and I am told that the facilities provided for exporting Members from the House about the hour of seven, and re-importing them at a later hour, have decidedly enhanced the difficulty of maintaining the necessary quorum within those hours. I can assure the hon. Member that the matter will be kept in view, and that we will not shrink from the necessity of proposing a remedy in case circumstances should appear to call for one.