§ MR. HUTTON (Yorkshire, W.R., Morley)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he has definitely undertaken, during the discussion of a Government Bill and during the lifetime of the present Parliament, to provide an opportunity to raise the question of women's franchise in a form that would give legislative sanction to the proposal; what means he proposes to take to ascertain whether the proposal has behind it the overwhelming support of the women of the country; what would be the probable numerical effect upon the electoral register if the names of women were added upon a democratic basis; and whether, in view of the fact that there is no precedent for so great a change except upon the responsibility of the Government of the day, and that no active discussion of this proposal has taken place at any general election, he will consider the advisability of deferring the consideration of this question under such circumstances to another Parliament.
§ MR. ASQUITHAs to the first and last paragraphs of this Question, I must refer my hon. friend to what I said on behalf of the Government to a deputation of my hon. friends last week. In regard to the second paragraph, there is a variety of ways in which opinion may be expressed, and it is not for me to say which of them is likely to be most effectual for the purpose. With regard to the third paragraph, I am not aware that there are any statistical data upon which a trustworthy answer can be founded.
§ MR. HUTTONIf an Amendment to the proposed Government Bill is carried, will it then become part of the Government's policy in relation to the franchise of the country?
§ MR. ASQUITHMy hon. friend asks me a contingent question in regard to a remote and speculative future.
§ MR. MOORE (Armagh, N.)Will the right hon. Gentleman say where we may find a report of his answer to the deputation?
§ MR. ASQUITHI think I saw a very excellent report in The Times.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLCorrect by accident.
§ LORD R. CECILI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he intends to introduce a measure of electoral reform before the next general election, and, if so, whether it will be introduced in. this session or next session; and whether he proposes to give no facilities for the enactment of a Bill conferring the franchise upon women except in connection with a measure of general electoral reform.
§ MR. ASQUITHNo such measure will be introduced during the present session, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement with regard to the business of next year. In regard to the latter part of the Question, I must refer the noble Lord to the speech which I made to the deputation last week.
§ LORD R. CECILWill the right hon. Gentleman cause an authorised report of that speech to be circulated?
§ [No Answer was returned.]