§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is absolutely necessary to complete a Parliamentary Session and to prorogue within a year; whether he is aware of precedents for a continuous Session of more than one year; and whether Her Majesty's Ministers will under present circumstances refrain from advising a Prorogation, but, when necessary, substitute short adjournments instead, until the Home Rule Bill, and such other measures as they deem next in importance, shall have been passed through this House?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI am sensible that the House is placed, with 657 regard to the prosecution of Business, in a position of great and increasing difficulty, and in due time it may be the duty of the Government to consider in a comprehensive manner in what way these difficulties ought to be met; but I do not think it would be desirable to enter into any particulars at the present moment. At the proper time I should be prepared, in case it should be desirable, to make specific proposals.