§ DR. MACNAMARAI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the Bill to provide, under proper safeguards, for the feeding of hungry children, brought in by the hon. Member for Hoxton, and supported, amongst others, by the hon. Members for Sheffield Brightside, South Islington, West Bradford, Stoke-upon-Trent, and South-West Bethnal Green; and whether, having regard to the fact that these hon. Members are all supporters of the Government, he will give facilities for the Second Reading of this Bill and for the reference of it to a Grand Committee if the same can be arranged by consent.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)I think the hon. Gentleman is under some misapprehension when he supposes that the objection that I am sure every Leader of the House feels to giving facilities for private Members' Bills is at all modified by consideration of the quarter from 659 which the support of the Bill comes. The objection is of quite a general character, and I do not think I can waive it in this instance, especially as there is a Committee appointed to inquire into this question.
§ DR. MACNAMARAMay I ask whether, having regard to the nature of this Bill, the Prime Minister will inform his supporters behind him that it is not his desire that they should block it.
§ MR. CROOKSIs not the First Lord of the Treasury of opinion that part of the business of the Prime Minister of the country is to study the condition of the underfed children of the country.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt is with a I view of studying the condition of the underfed children of the country that we have appointed a Committee to give us the necessary knowledge of the facts. For my part I think we ought not to legislate on this subject without that knowledge.