SIR HENRY HOWARTH (Salford, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if his attention has been drawn to the occasional paralysis of proceedings when the House is in Committee, caused by the fact that in the absence of the Chairman of Committees it is not possible to invoke the closure; and whether he can see his way to cancelling the clause in the Standing Order which restricts the use of the closure to the Speaker and the Chairman of Committees, instead of extending its use to any occupant of the Chair for the time being.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI recognise, as the House must recognise, that this is an important matter which may very well engage the attention of the House. I do not think that my hon. friend can ask me to propose an alteration of the Standing Order in the present session. At all events, as at present advised, I should be disinclined to follow any such course.