§ MR. RYLANDS (Burnley)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is the intention of the Government, at an early period this Session, to take steps for the appointment of Select Committees to inquire into the Administration and Expenditure of the great Spending Departments of the State?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE) (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)In answer to my hon. Friend, I am afraid there is no likelihood that we can see our way to appoint such Committees during the present Session. Viewing together the number of Committees the House of Commons has at present appointed, and the grave character of the subjects to be dealt with by the Committee on Procedure and that on East Indian affairs, we must abandon the hope of really seeing those Committees during the present Session.