§ MR. J. G. TALBOTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, before the discussion of the Resolutions on Standing Committees, he will lay before the House any proposals as to the conduct of business in such Committees?
MR. GLADSTONEIn answer to my hon. Friend, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government see no necessity for laying down any proposals as to the conduct of Business generally in such Committees, because we have no doubt that it will fall under the general Rules now applicable to Select Committees. There is one point not without importance that I ought to reserve, and that is that we shall make a proposal, of which, the House shall have ample Notice, as regards the mode of appointing the Chairman of these Committees. In other respects, we look to the Code now in existence for Select Committees.
§ MR. J. G. TALBOTasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would consider the question of quorums at a future date?
MR. GLADSTONEThat is a question which is generally dealt with at the time of the appointment of the Committee; but it will be quite proper to consider it.
MR. GORSTwished to know if it would be open to any Member of the House to propose for the acceptance of the House any scheme of Rules for the guidance of those Committees?
MR. GLADSTONEI apprehend it would be quite possible for any Gentle- 954 man who thinks proper to propose any Amendment or additional Resolution.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the right hon. Gentleman if he could inform the House what was proposed as to the mode of appointing casual Chairmen of Committees?
MR. GLADSTONEThat is a matter entirely distinct from the Question of the Resolution; and it appears to me that it is a subject which the House would most conveniently take up amongst the initial proceedings of the coming Session.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEWith respect to what the right hon. Gentleman said just now as to the competence of hon. Members to propose additional Resolutions, I would ask him now, or give Notice to ask, what the intentions of the Government are with regard to the various additional Resolutions that have been put on the Paper by a number of Members of the House; whether it is the intention of the Government that those Resolutions shall be discussed; or whether they will consider that the Business of the Session is closed when the Resolutions originally proposed by themselves have been finished? If not convenient to answer now, I shall put the Question on Friday.
MR. GLADSTONEI do not think I could answer that Question with regard to the whole mass of the Resolutions until we come nearer to the conclusion of our own Resolutions; but it would be quite proper to put the Question later on, after due Notice.