§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Prime Minister whether he has now had an opportunity of refreshing his memory as to his declaration, shortly before assuming office, that one of the first steps of the Liberal Government would be to deal with the creeping paralysis of the Parliamentary organism in regard to the lack of control by the House of Commons over Supply; and whether, having regard to the fact that no proposals with this object in view have yet been submitted by His Majesty's present Government, he is in a position to make any statement upon the matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid that I could not at present make any statement on this matter which would be of a satisfactory character.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since the present Government came into power something like two hundred and fifty millions of money have been voted by this House without an atom of discussion or examination, and does he not think while that state of things exists our claim to be paramount in finance savours a little of comicality?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere is a good deal of arguable matter in my hon. Friend's question.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that a measure of devolution will have any effect in stopping this "creeping paralysis"?