HC Deb 06 March 1911 vol 22 cc824-5
Mr. DOUGLAS HALL

asked the Prime Minister, whether, in the event of a Bill being introduced in the House of Lords for the reform of that Chamber, he will so arrange the business of this House that the discussion in Committee of this House of the Preamble of the Parliament Bill shall not take place until the first-mentioned Bill has been introduced into this House?

Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

On a point of Order. Before that question is answered I wish to ask whether, having regard to the fact that any measure necessarily affecting the Prerogative of the Crown or altering the composition of the House of Lords must have as a condition precedent to its passage through either Houses of Parliament the consent of the Crown—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."]

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER

I must ask hon. Members to allow the hon. Member to proceed with his question.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

On a point of Order.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

This is a point of Order.

Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

Owing to the interruption, I must repeat the first part of my question: Whether, having regard to the fact that any measure necessarily affecting the Prerogative of the Crown, or altering the composition of the House of Lords, must have as a condition precedent to its passage through either House of Parliament, the consent of the Crown formally communicated to that House by a Minister of the Crown responsible to the House of Commons, or through the House of Commons to the people, and acting presumably on behalf of the Cabinet, this question relating to the probable action of this House in the event of the introduction of a House of Lords Reform Bill in the House of Lords by Members unauthorised by the Crown for that purpose comes under the category of hypothetical questions which are beyond the limits of Parliamentary interrogation; and whether the arrangements suggested by the question that the course of business in this House should be affected by the action of the House of Lords in relation to its own business is without precedent, contrary to the claim repeatedly asserted or maintained by this House to be an independent Estate of the Realm, and an infraction or surrender of its privileges?

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

On the point of Order. Without going into the correctness of the argument of the hon. and learned Member, I must say I see no reason why the question should not be put and answered.

The PRIME MINISTER

The answer to the question is that I cannot give any such undertaking.