§ SIR ROBERT REID (Dumfries Burghs)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will ask the House to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the working of the Corrupt Practices Acts and of the laws governing the trial of Parliamentary Election Petitions?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (MR. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)In the opinion of the Government it would be desirable to have an Inquiry into the matter, but I do not think that it could be conveniently started upon 450 this Session. Communication has been opened with the Judges, but their reply has not yet been received.
§ SIR W. HART DYKE (Kent, Dartford)asked whether the precise date on which a candidature for Parliamentary honours might be said to commence could be fixed; would it not be possible to place this matter in the forefront?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI have no doubt that that is a point which the Committee have to investigate; but I should be sorry to commit myself, as the Committee cannot be appointed until next Session.