§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralI beg to give notice that on Thursday next I shall move for leave to introduce a Bill for amending the law relating to Local Government in Ireland, and other purposes connected therewith.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolI beg to give notice that on an early 56 day I will ask the leave of the House to introduce a Bill to amend the Prisons' Acts.
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireI beg to give notice that on an early day I shall move for leave to bring in a Bill to provide for improving and extending the procedure for obtaining Parliamentary powers by way of Provisional Order in matters relating to Scotland.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI beg to give notice that on an early day I will move for leave to bring in a Bill relating to Patronage of Benefices, and for other purposes.
§ MR. J. G. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal)Mr. Speaker, In regard to a matter of privilege in which this House has authority over its members, I beg to direct your attention to the absence for upwards of 12 months of Mr. Robert Ward, Member for the Crewe division of Cheshire, without the leave of this House either asked for or given, whereby that constituency has been practically disfranchised, and the House of Commons treated by one of its own Members with disrespect amounting to contumely.
Now I wish to ask you, Sir, whether there is any mode of remedy for enforcing the fulfilment, either by this House or by statutory or constitutional obligation, of the performance of the duties imposed on Members of this House by the orders and regulations of this House.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member asked me a precisely similar question on the 2nd of May last year, and I then gave him the best answer in my power. I am afraid I must refer him to that answer, as I have no more information to give him now.