HC Deb 18 February 1903 vol 118 cc139-41
THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

In moving the Resolution which stands in my name on the Paper I do not think any words of explanation are required from me. The new Rule provides two nights in the week on which private Members' Bills may be taken, and I will only remind hon. Members that, in bringing in their Bills, it is not necessary for them now to advance from the bar of the House. A great deal of time may be saved if the new procedure is adopted.

Motion made, and Question proposed—

That no Bills, other than Government Bills, be introduced in anticipation of the ballot, and that all Members who desire to ballot, whether for Bills or for Motions, for Tuesday, 24th February, and Tuesday, 3rd March, and Wednesday, 25th February, and Wednesday 4th March, do hand in their names at the Table during the sitting of the House on the first or second day of the session, and that a copy of such notices be handed in at the latest during the sitting of the House on the third day of the session.

That the ballot for the precedence of the said Bills and Motions be taken on the third day on which the House sits, at a convenient time and place to be appointed by Mr. Speaker, and that the presentation of Bills on the fourth sitting day be taken as soon after twelve o'clock as Mr. Speaker may deem convenient. (Mr. A. J. Balfour.)

MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rusheliffe)

said the House was taking a new departure. Three or four years ago he made some remarks on a similar Motion, showing that though the arrangements for balloting, etc,. at the beginning of the year were rather complicated, yet the result at the end of the session was very poor, so far as the number of private Members' Bills receiving the Royal Assent was concerned. How far the alterations would effect an improvement in that respect remained to be seen. They had in the past too often seen the Leader of the House—who should be the conservator and guardian of Standing Orders, moving the suspension of them, and—

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That hardly arises on this Motion, which only deals with the method of taking the ballot.

MR. ELLIS

said that on the 8th February, 1899,† he raised the question on a similar Motion, but, of course, after the intimation from the Chairman he would not pursue the matter further. He would only express his hope that at the end of the session they would find that the new procedure had helped unofficial Members interested in Private Bills in securing fruition for their eagerness and anxiety to see a certain amount of legislation passed every year irrespective of that initiated by the Government.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

referred to the inconvenience caused on the previous day by crowds of Members flocking to the Table in order to sign the Notice Paper. Last year Mr. Speaker expressed an opinion that some arrangements should be made to obviate such proceedings by having the work done in a Committee Room, and he would ask the Prime Minister if steps could not be taken to ensure that being done. He trusted that on future occasions their proceedings would not thus be in terrupted.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I may remind the right hon. Gentleman that these arrangements rest with the Speaker, who, I understand, has provided that in future such things as the right hon. Gentleman complains of shall be avoided. With regard to the dates mentioned in the Motion, I have not the smallest hope that the debate on the Address will be concluded by the 24th inst., and it may, therefore, be necessary to bring forward † See (4) Debates, lxxi, 181. a Motion giving the Government the whole of the time of the House until the debate is concluded.

Question put, and agreed to.