§ MR. DUNCOMBE (Cumberland, Egremont)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to a Notice now on the Paper respecting the desirability of enabling Mr. Speaker, in the unavoidable absence through illness of the Chairman of Ways and Means, to appoint a temporary Chairman of Ways and Means, who shall for the time being only have the same duties and powers as the Chairman of Ways and Means; and whether, with a view to preventing great public inconvenience and loss of time in the unavoidable absence through illness at the same time of Mr. Speaker and the Chairman of Ways and Means, he is prepared at an early date to propose some Amendment to the Standing Orders on the lines indicated in the Notice in question?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYUndoubtedly the present rules are of such a kind that difficulties may arise in connection with the matter alluded to by my honourable Friend. I think the subject is worthy of consideration, and that consideration the Government is prepared to give to it.