§ SIR JOHN HAYasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If he will consider the expediency of suspending the Half-past Twelve Standing Order for the remainder of the Session, and thus give the Scotch Members an opportunity of forwarding measures interesting to that part of the United Kingdom, and not affecting England and Ireland, in those sixteen hours formerly appropriated to the business of the House, but of which it is deprived by the Standing Order in question?
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLsaid, he would like to ask, also, Whether there was any truth in the statement that it was proposed to send Scotch Business to a Committee of Scotch Members, so as to enable those Gentlemen to deal with it in the day-time instead of the dead of night, before the breakfast hour?
MR. GLADSTONESir, in answer to the Question of the right hon. Gentleman opposite, I am very sensible of the importance of the subject, and I do not wonder that he should put the Question just as if he were in despair; but I must own that to ask the Government to abolish the Half-past Twelve Rule at the present moment is only asking them to add another subject of discussion to the subjects we have already in hand—when the time at their disposal, and at the disposal of the House, is unfortunately very inadequate for its immediate purposes. With respect to the rumour inquired about by the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Sir George Campbell), I should have thought, Sir, if there were any truth in its being intended to make a proposal of this kind, the proposal would have appeared in due course upon the Notice Paper of the House. All I have to say upon this subject at present 1273 is that the Government are very ready indeed to receive any suggestion that can be made of a practical character upon this Question, and that it is one to which, undoubtedly, they will give their own serious attention at the earliest moment when they can bring any results of their consideration into a practical form.
§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the Prime Minister whether he would consider the desirability of committing the Irish Coercion Bill to a general Committee of Irish Members?
MR. GLADSTONENo, Sir, I have no intention of doing that, and I think it would be irregular, under the circumstances; but I may observe, that if I did, the fact would appear that it is only a small minority of Irish Members who oppose the Bill.