HC Deb 17 March 1904 vol 131 c1413
MR. BLACK

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the proportion of the expense of Parliamentary elections which is incurred through the charges of returning officers and their assistants; and whether with the view of facilitating the return of manual labourers and other persons of moderate means to serve in this House, the Government will, before the ensuing general election, take steps to place these charges on public funds.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Government do not propose to deal with any subject connected with our electoral system during the course of the present Parliament, but I do not answer as to what we may decide to do in the next two or three years.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

May I ask whether that answer includes the question of redistribution?

MR. BLACK

Is the decision due to want of time before the general election?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not know to what want of time the hon. Gentleman alludes.