§ MR. HERBERT ROBERTSON (Hackney, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that Bills introduced under the recent addition to Standing Order No. 31, after the customary notice, can only be backed by the name of the introducer, and that the only Bill so introduced by a non-official Member has been withdrawn on this ground; and whether he will consider the possibility of arrangements being made for other names being added, on such names being specified in the notice, or by any other means.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.My attention has been called to the difficulty to which my hon. friend refers in this Question. I need hardly say it was never the intention of the House, or of the Government, that the change in the rule should have this indirect and unexpected consequence. Of course, it is not for me to give an interpretation of the rule. Perhaps my hon. friend will himself confer with the Speaker.
Subsequently MR. A. J. BALFOUR saidIt would be for the convenience of the House if you, Sir, gave a ruling in regard to the names of others than the introducers being placed on the back of Bills.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe new Standing Order does not itself deal with this matter; but it appears to be a convenient course, and one to which I see no objection, that the hon. Member who brings in a Bill under the new Order should be allowed to put upon it the names of those hon. Members who have co-operated with him in the preparation of the Bill, just as in the case of a Bill brought up from the Bar. If the House sees no objection, I will direct that this may be done. Of course the practice will be subject to the same conditions as in the case of a Bill brought up from the Bar. The number of names will be limited, and 1293 the hon. Member who puts them down will thereby guarantee that he has obtained permission to do so.