MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, do His Majesty's Government propose to introduce any change into the constitutional practice that a Cabinet Minister responsible to Parliament shall be in personal attendance on the Sovereign when absent either from the neighbourhood of the Metropolis or from the British dominions; and, if so, on what ground is that change proposed to be made.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think there has been that rigid practice my hon. friend assumes. I am not aware that there is any proof of it. Certainly, during the reign of the late Queen it was not the invariable practice for the Sovereign to be accompanied by a Minister in attendance.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESI gather that my hon. friend is not prepared to make any change in the constitutional practice.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUROh, certainly. I do not in the least desire to change a constitutional practice.