HC Deb 04 December 1884 vol 294 cc649-50
MR. D. GRANT

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, with regard to the greatly increased number of Questions placed on the Paper, and the waste of public time consequent upon answering the same, If he would consider whether in future the replies to all Questions might be printed, excepting those which, in the opinion of the Government, would be best answered in the existing mode, or those which may be of immediate and pressing importance?

SIR ALEXANDER GORDON

asked, Whether, during the adjournment of the House, the Prime Minister would consider the propriety of acceding to the' Motion for the appointment of a Select Committee on the subject, Notice of which he had given, and which he proposed to bring forward when he had an opportunity?

MR. SEXTON

asked, Whether the right hon. Gentleman had observed that 73 Questions, dealing with matters of great public interest, and a number of subsidiary Questions, had been answered that evening in the space of an hour; and, whether an hour could be put to better use?

MR. GLADSTONE

said, he had not observed that the Questions referred to had been put in the space of an hour; but he thought that there had been considerable despatch on some recent days, and he wished that that despatch were the general rule. He did not wish to exclude the appointment of a Committee on this question, or any other matter of procedure, if the House should see its way to a beneficial result; but he would rather not bind the Government upon the subject until the matter was regularly brought forward for discussion, nor was it possible to give an affrima- tive reply to one particular mode of dealing with the subject. He should commit himself too hastily if he did so. Undoubtedly, the matter did call for some attention; but he did not think that any reply that he could give in answer would advance the question.

MR. JOSEPH COWEN

asked if it would not be possible for the Questions to be systematized, so that, for example, all Questions relating to Ireland or to foreign affairs should follow each other?

MR. GLADSTONE

said, he supposed that might be done; but whether it would entail much difficulty he did not know. It was, however, a matter entirely within the discretion of the ordinary authorities of the House.