HC Deb 13 April 1888 vol 324 cc1196-7
MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If his attention has been directed to the practice under the new Rules of Procedure of the progress of nearly all Bills called on after midnight being peremptorily stopped by any hon. Member saying "I object," without giving any reason for such objection; and, if the Government propose to submit to the House any amendment of such Rule, in order to facilitate useful legislation?

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

also asked, whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman had been called to the character of the legislation which was stopped by the 12 o'clock Rule.

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

I must refrain from expressing an opinion on the character of legislation for which the Government are not responsible. It is hardly desirable that I should do so. In answer to my hon. Friend's Question on the Paper, I have to say that the Rule existing before the present Rule was brought into operation enabled any hon. Member to object to a measure being taken after half-past 12, and that objection could be taken by simply putting a Notice on the Paper, without requiring the Member's personal attendance. The House now meets an hour earlier than it used to do for all practical purposes; and, therefore, we have half-an-hour more for the discharge of our duties in this House and for making progress with Business than we had before the present Rule was enacted. In these circumstances—and being of opinion that, on the whole, the new Rule will work for the convenience of the House, and tend rather to promote the progress both of Public Business and Business in which private Members are interested—I do not think it my duty to ask the House to make any alteration in the Rule.

MR. HOWARD VINCENT

asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman would be able occasionally to stop Government Business at half-past 11, or some other early hour, in order that private Members' Bills might have some chance?

MR. W. H. SMITH

I am sure that my hon. Friend will see that it would be extremely dangerous to do anything of that kind.