§ Mr. HOLTasked the Prime Minister whether he will propose an Amendment to the Standing Orders providing that attendance at prayers shall be wholly disassociated from the securing of any purely temporal advantage such as a favourable seat in the House, and that the right to select a seat for the day should be made dependent on fulfilling some wholly secular condition?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)As my hon. Friend is aware, this matter is regulated by Standing Orders, and no change could be carried out without the assent of the House. I shall, of course, be glad to consider the wishes of Members, but so far I have received no suggestion from my hon. Friend or from any other quarter as to the nature of the secular test which should be substituted for the religious test of which he complains.
§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he thinks that prayers have any spiritual effect upon the minds of Members of this House?