§ *SIR CHARLES DILKEI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether a Redistribution Bill for next session has been drafted, and whether a Boundary Commission is to be set up before Parliament meets again, or whether the inquiries will be made by a Departmental Committee; whether the Bill as drafted contains clauses dealing with the ancient right, ownership, and other voters whose status is different in county and borough constituencies respectively, and, as regards Great Britain, with the starring of voters; or whether it is intended that the provisions dealing with franchise and registration necessitated by any merger of boroughs in counties, division of boroughs, or alteration of county and borough boundaries, are to be placed in a separate Bill.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think that the best course in the first instance would be to appoint a Committee to obtain information for the guidance of the Government. The appointment of the Commission would follow in due course. Whether it should be set up after or before Parliament meets again is a matter for consideration. It would be impossible to give any details at this stage of the clauses of the Redistribution Bill, but I see no reason why any provisions that are actually consequential on Redistribution should not be contained in the same Bill as the Redistribution proposals.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIf there is a separate Commission for Ireland, will there also be a separate Committee?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think I have stated whether there ought or ought not to be a separate Committee for Ireland. There was a separate Commission before for Ireland, but whether there will be a separate Committee I think it better not to commit myself. But the previous precedent will probably be followed in the present case.
§ MR. EMMOTT (Oldham)Will the names of the Committee be announced when they are appointed?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not imagine that the matter will be kept secret, but if the hon. Member means a formal announcement of the names for the purposes of discussion I do not think they will be.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIn Ireland, at all events, there was a separate Report obtained from the Ordnance Survey Department before the Commission took action.
§ MR. McKENNA (Monmouthshire, N.)Is there any precedent for establishing a Boundary Commission without previous Parliamentary sanction?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUROh, yes, in 1885. [Cries of "No."] Well, to be accurate, at the end of 1884.