HC Deb 10 May 1906 vol 156 cc1496-7
MR. EVERETT (Suffolk, Woodbridge)

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, with a view to the saving of the time of the House, the progress of public business, and the comfort of Members, it is possible to improve upon the present method of taking divisions; and whether he can see his way to invite the House to give authority to the Speaker, or other presiding Chairman, when Members are assembled for a division, and a Question is put from the Chair, to call for a show of hands upon it, as is done in all other assemblies, and if there is an unmistakable majority for or against, to accept that as the decision of the House, which would then only have actually to divide when no such majority had been given.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

The Government are ready to consider any proposals designed to reduce the very grave inconvenience to which my hon. friend refers, with a view to submitting those which appear most practicable to the Committee on Procedure at a later stage. My right hon. friend the First Commissioner of Works is also considering the various structural problems involved in the changes suggested. We are very keenly alive to the importance of the Question.

MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would consider the great importance of allowing representatives to register their names and votes.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I should think that the power of enabling a Member to register his vote immediately would probably involve that each Member should have a seat allocated to him as is the case in most assemblies elsewhere. This would involve an entire change of the arrangements of the House, as well as of the manner of conducting our debates, and very nearly all the habits, whether good or bad, we have through many centuries acquired. I think that this fact must be borne in mind before we leap to the conclusion that such an arrangement is possible.

MR. DILLON

I am content with the present system, but all I ask is whether the right hon. Gentleman will keep in mind the great importance of seeing that each representative gets into the public Press some statement of how he votes in each division.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I appreciate that view, and I hope we shall do nothing to invalidate in any respect the present system so far as it secures the publication of votes in the House.

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