§ LORD R. CECIL (Marylebone, E.)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he intends to propose the promised Amendment to the Standing Orders dealing with anticipatory Motions.
§ SIR CHARLES McLAREN (Leicestershire, Boswell)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government propose to carry out the recommendations of the Committee appointed last session to consider the subject of blocking Notices of Motions given in this House.
§ MR. ASQUITHThe Amendments to the Standing Orders will be placed on the Paper immediately, and they can be moved at any time that we can be assured that they can pass as unopposed Resolutions.
§ MR. LEIF JONES (Westmorland, Appleby)Are hon. Members to be left entirely at the mercy of the proposed Amendments being made without opposition in the House?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe Prime Minister said—and, I think, I said—we were prepared only to move these Amendments if they obtained general consent.
§ MR. LEIF JONESCannot the Government give some help to private Members who ballot a Motion in the hope of getting debate on the subject?
§ MR. ASQUITHHon. Members can take that course if they like.
§ LORD R. CECILDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that the Government will not move the Resolutions unless they are absolutely unopposed?
§ MR. ASQUITHUnless they are substantially unopposed.