HC Deb 02 February 1893 vol 8 cc254-5
MR. HENRY HOBHOUSE (Somerset, E.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will consider whether some better arrangements can be made for ballotting for private Members' Bills, whereby the time of this House may be saved, and the Debate on Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech may be commenced at an earlier and more suitable hour.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Before the question is answered I will ask whether he is aware that in the Marquess of Hartington's Committee of 1886 a Resolution was carried recommending a change in the direction indicated by the hon. Member's question?

*MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

Any inconvenience which has been felt in connection with this subject undoubtedly reached a very high point indeed when we met on Tuesday. I have been in communication with the Authorities of the House in regard to the matter, and I have every hope from the information they have given me that it will he found possible to devise a plan by which, as far as regards balloting for Bills, the House may be relieved from that inconvenience.