§ MR. W. BIRKMYRE (Ayr Burghs)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government are disposed to introduce any proposals for amending the Rules of Procedure of the House, so as to secure a time limit on speeches delivered therein, and that no Member shall, when the House is in Committee, be entitled to speak more than once on the same Motion?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI am very favourably disposed to the subjects of the hon. Member's question, and should be delighted myself to come under his rule; and the shorter the limits he imposed, the better I should be pleased. But of all duties to be imposed upon a Government this is the most formidable, and I would ask my hon. Friend, in the words of an old Scotch saying which he will recognise, "Who is to bell the cat?"
§ MR. BIRKMYREIs the right hon. Gentleman willing to appoint a Committee to open up the whole question of Parliamentary procedure? Lord Rose—bery promised very favourable consideration to the question elsewhere.
No answer was returned.