HC Deb 28 July 1890 vol 347 cc1069-70
MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)

I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Mid Lothian (Mr. Gladstone) what he intends to do with respect to the Motion which stands on the Paper in his name under the head "Charges against Ministers"? [The Motion was as follows:— That this House deems it necessary to declare that when a Member of this House prefers a charge against a Minister of the Crown, which charge is denied on behalf of the Minister, such Member ought not to be restrained from refusing to accept such denial and persisting in his charge by reason that the Minister is a Member of the House of Lords."]

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

With respect to this notice, which has remained on the Paper longer than I intended, I have to say that the notice was given under the impression that there was some difference of opinion on the subject, which it would be desirable to clear up. A subsequent communication left upon my mind very distinctly the conviction that there is no difference on the subject, and that being so I desire to withdraw the Motion.

MR. E. ROBERTSON

In consequence of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to give notice that I will move— That, in the opinion of this House, the Rules of Debate ought not to discriminate (except so far as is now the practice with regard to proceedings in the House of Lords) between Peers and other persons not being Members of this House. In a day or two I will ask whether the First Lord of the Treasury will be disposed to state what view Her Majesty's Government may take on the subject.