§ Mr. GIBSON BOWLESasked the Prime Minister whether he has considered that the Naval Prize Bill is limited to the con- 1440 solidation and amendment of Naval Prize Law, and neither deals with nor refers to the Declaration of London, 1909, and that no opportunity will therefore arise on the Second Reading of that Bill for debating the Declaration in question; and will he undertake that, before any steps are taken to ratify the Declaration of London, the question of its ratification shall be submitted to Parliament for express Parliamentary sanction?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI have consulted the Prime Minister upon the subject, and if the Declaration of London cannot be raised upon the Naval Prize Bill another opportunity will be afforded to Members for discussing it. The Declaration does not require the sanction of Parliament, but, as already stated, the House will have an opportunity of considering it before ratification.
§ Mr. GIBSON BOWLESOn whose or what authority does the hon. Member state that a Declaration changing the law does not require the assent of Parliament?
§ Mr. GIBSON BOWLESOn whose legal advice? Is it on the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown?
§ Mr. ROWLAND HUNTDoes the Declaration of London not require to be ratified by this Parliament?
§ Mr. J. G. BUTCHERWill any opportunity be given to discuss the advisability of this Declaration?
§ Mr. GIBSON BOWLESIf His Majesty's Government can ratify the Declaration by sole prerogative, why is it proposed to take the House into the confidence of the Government at all?