§ Mr. JAMES MASONasked the Prime Minister whether he will direct the preparation of a statement showing which of the provisions of the Naval Prize Bill are consolidation of existing law and which of its provisions are or contain new matter; and whether he will lay such statement on the Table of the House at an early date?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the hon. Member will refer to the printed copies of the Bill, he will see that the marginal notes cite the corresponding sections of the existing Acts of Parliament. A comparison of those Sections with the Clauses of the Bill will indicate the extent to which new matter has been included in the Bill.
§ Mr. BUTCHERAre we to understand that where there are no marginal notes the Bill applies to new matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt, is either new matter or old matter reproduced.
§ Mr. BUTCHERHow are we to distinguish between new and old matter when apparently a marginal note in reference to a Statute means nothing at all?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is not a proper inference from my answer at all. A little ordinary research will enable the hon. Member to see what is new and what is old.