RESOLUTION 5 (DURATION OF RESOLUTIONS). (Hansard, 1 December 1882)

§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL
said, he hoped that the Government would give the House an opportunity of considering the operation of the Standing Committees before the end of next Session. He thought they were entitled to a pledge from the Government that there would be a bonâ fide discussion on the subject some considerable time before the end of the Session.

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON
said, that, as far as he could judge, there would be no indisposition on the part of the Government to give the House an opportunity of discussing the operation of these Committees. If, as he trusted, the present experiment was successful, the Government would probably ask the House to renew the experiment, and, perhaps, extend its operation. He had no hesitation whatever in saying that such a proposal ought to be brought forward in proper time, when the House could thoroughly discuss it. If, contrary to the expectations of the Government, the experiment should prove unsuccessful, then no proposal would be made to renew the Resolutions. He thought that, under those circumstances, it might be left to some independent Member to raise the question. If the experiment were a failure, it would, in his opinion, not be necessary to discuss it, for it would be abandoned. He could assure the House that if it were proposed to renew or extend the experiment steps would be taken at such a time that the House would have a full opportunity of discussing the matter.

§ LORD JOHN MANNERS
said, that, while recognizing the conciliatory tone of the remarks of the noble Marquess, he thought that the House ought to have some more clear and precise information as to the time when this matter would be discussed next Session. The noble Lord said that if the Government thought the scheme a success, they would propose to renew it for the ensuing Session, and that due Notice would be given of such proposal. But the House was in the hands of the Government as to what constituted due Notice.

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON
said, that his statement was that if a 517 proposal for renewal were made, it should be made in good time, so that the House could discuss it.

LORD JOHN MANNEBS
said, that they wanted to know what was "good time." They ought to have a definite assurance from the Government that a proposal to renew the Grand Committee scheme should not be made when half the House had disappeared. He hoped the Government would insert some words in the Resolution which would commit the Government to a definite undertaking that the proposition to renew the Resolution should be discussed in good time.

§ MR. WHITBREAD
said, he thought it would be reasonable if the Government were to promise that the discussion on the renewal of the Grand Committee scheme should not be commenced later than some day in July.

§ MR. GIBSON
said, that these last Resolutions had received very rapid and summary consideration. He was opposed, however, to accepting the mere statement of the intentions of the Government; and, in order to give the Government an opportunity of stating their views, he would move to omit the words "end of the next Session of Parliament," and insert the words "on the 15th of July, 1883." That would be more clear and precise.

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON
said, it did not appear to him that the Amendment moved would necessarily effect the purpose, and might be extremely inconvenient, as it might have the effect of cutting short the proceedings of the Standing Committees. All it was possible for him to say was, that he would represent to the Prime Minister and his Colleagues the conciliatory manner in which the Resolutions had been received by the House, and that it was his opinion that the view of the House was that, if it was proposed to renew the Resolutions, either in their present or any other shape, it ought to 518 be done when the House was in a condition to fully and adequately discuss them; and he would make every effort in his power to secure that that should take place before the end of the month of July.

§ LORD JOHN MANNERS
said, he thought the matter would be met best by inserting these words in the Resolution:—"Provided that the Motion for their renewal shall not be made later than the 15th July."

§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL
said, it was quite possible that the conciliatory spirit which had prevailed that night might not exist until the end of July next; indeed, it was quite possible the present Government might not then be in Office. However, he thought it was not worth while to prolong the discussion after what had been said by the noble Marquess, and he hoped the Amendment would not be pressed.

§ MR. GIBSON
asked leave to withdraw his Amendment. He did so on account of the conciliatory spirit in which the Government had received his suggestion, and in deference to the statement of the noble Marquess, that any attempt to renew the Resolution would be made before the third week in July.