§ MR. CONYBEAREI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will consider the possibility of increasing during the forthcoming Session the number of Standing Committees from two to five, with a view to their dealing with a much larger number of Bills than at present; and whether he will furnish 229 a Return showing what number of Members have served during the present Session upon (a) Standing Committees, (b) Select Committees, and (e) Private Bill Committees out of the total 670 Members of the House, distinguishing those who served upon more than one Committee?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEIn regard to the Return asked for, if the hon. Member will frame one in the form he desires, the Government will consider if it can he granted. With respect to the question whether an addition ought to be made to the present number of Standing Committees, that is a subject of a large character, and it would hardly come within the limits of the understanding on which the House of Commons has met for the Autumn Sitting to make any proposal of the kind. No doubt it is a subject fit for examination at any future period when the important matter of procedure is under consideration.
§ MR. CONYBEAREPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will permit me to frame a Return and put it on the Notice Paper.
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONECertainly.