§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is in a position to state what facilities would be given to the House for the discussion of Lord Dufferin's Despatch and of the new Egyptian Constitution?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICESir, I am not in a position to reply to the hon. Baronet's Question, which should be addressed to the Prime Minister.
MR. GLADSTONESir, I am not aware what basis there is for this Question. It seems to me to be proposed on the supposition that it is the duty of the Government to afford, out of its own share of the time of the House, opportunities to Members, who may be so disposed, to discuss every question of public interest. That is not my understanding of the relative positions of the Government and of private Members. My understanding is, that a certain por- 233 tion of time is allotted to the Government, in order that they may lay before the House the consideration of those questions upon which they require the aid of the House; and that another portion is allotted to private Members, in order that they may bring forward any questions connected with the conduct of the Government or otherwise which they may think deserve the attention of the House. I have no doubt my hon. Friend feels that the portion of the time of the House appropriated to private Members is very much crowded; but, then, that is exactly the case with the Government. We are likewise very much crowded; and, out of our poverty, we are not able to afford him any portion of our time.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONIn explanation, I may be allowed to say that I asked the Question because, on the occasion of the last debate, we were told by the noble Lord the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice) to wait for Lord Dufferin's despatch.