§ MR. KIMBERI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury what is the result of the consideration which last session he promised would be given by the Cabinet to the subject of the increasing disparities in the representation of the people in Parliament; whether he is aware that the Registration Returns of last autumn show a still further increase in such disparities; and whether, without going to the extent of bringing in a Redistribution Bill in the present session, the Government intend to institute or will consent to some form of preliminary inquiry into and ascertainment of the facts upon which any future Redistribution Bill must be based, and which preliminary inquiry must necessarily take considerable time, probably a whole session.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe facts to which my hon. friend alludes are well known. I do not think that any investigation such as he desires really would throw any light upon the topic he wants to discuss, and as he does not suggest a Redistribution Bill this session I do not think that any further steps need be taken.