§ Lord ROBERT CECILasked the Prime Minister when he proposes to move the appointment of a Committee to consider the Procedure of this House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid that it would be difficult at this late period of the Session to secure the regular attendance of those Members whom, I am sure, that the House would wish to serve on a Committee of this character, and I propose accordingly to defer its appointment to next Session. The interval will enable the House to judge of the effect of the recent Amendment of the Standing Orders upon the acceleration and general conduct of business.
Captain CRAIGMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his phrase, "the late period of the Session," indicates that the Session is now drawing to a close?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, I hope so.
§ Lord R. CECILWill the right hon. Gentleman carefully consider whether it would not be desirable, at any rate, to set up the Committee this Session, even if it does no work? I quite recognise there may be a difficulty in its doing work, but this is a Session when one does not know what may happen next Session.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will consider it.