§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSSasked the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury, How it happened, considering the difficulties with regard to the progress of Public Business to which the Prime Minister had just alluded, a "House" was not kept last Friday evening?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)I will, Sir, with the permission of the House, answer that Question. After the Morning Sitting on Friday I was asked by my noble Friend (Lord Richard Grosvenor) to come to the House and to bring as many Members into the House as I might happen to see. A similar request was addressed to other Members. I came down to the House at 9 o'clock, and I counted nine or ten of my Colleagues on this Bench at the time the House met. I believe my noble Friend did his utmost to form a quorum at that hour. The House was counted out by the hon. and learned Member for Bridport (Mr. Warton) at the moment the Speaker took the Chair, the number of Members present being 35 or 36.