§ MR. WHALLEYasked, Whether the Government will take into consideration the present system of reporting, for the information of the public, the debates and proceedings in this House; and, what means may be adopted for providing full reports of the debates as well after midnight as before?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,in reply, said, there was some little inconvenience in saying that a subject would be taken into consideration—that seemed to imply that the Government thought that some plan might be adopted, and that they would consider how they best might mature such plan, and propose it to Parliament. Looking to the terms of the hon. Gentleman's Question, Her Majesty's Government were not prepared to make any promise of that kind, especially as it appeared that the Question had reference to some alteration, he supposed, of the present system of reporting, not for the advantage of the House in particular, but for the information of the public, which rather seemed to resolve itself into a question of supply and demand. However, the matter was one which did involve some considerations of importance, and, therefore, if the hon. Gentleman and the House would understand that in saying what he did he was not to be understood as saying more than he did; he would say that the matter was one about which the Government would think during the Recess.
§ MR. WHALLEYthanked the right hon. Gentleman, for his reply, and stated that he would call attention to the subject on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House.