§ SIR TINDAL ROBERTSON (Brighton)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, referring to a statement of the First Lord of the Treasury at the end of the Session of 1887—
That it would be the duty of the Government to propose to the House of Commons, early in the next Session, to adopt Rules for the regulation of its proceedings, so as to put an end to the excessively late Sittings which have exhausted the Members and officials during the Session now brought to a close,and considering that during the past weeks of the present Session the late hours, which have been described as having exhausted the Members and officials of the House, having again become so frequent as to endanger the health both of Members and officials, the Government will take steps to prevent, if possible, it being necessary, in future, that the House should sit later than 1 o'clock?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square), in reply, said, he thought it very desirable to avoid late Sittings; but he was afraid it would be impossible to give any kind of undertaking or pledge that late Sittings would be entirely done away with at the end of a Session. There was no doubt they tried the patience and physical powers of the House very much, and the Government, on their part, were extremely grateful to hon. Members for the large attendances, not with standing the lateness of the hours; but it would really be premature to make any declaration on the subject at present, and be feared that a certain elasticity must always be preserved towards the end of an Autumn Session.