§ Mr. CRAWSHAY-WILLIAMSasked the Prime Minister whether, among the reforms of our electoral system which he has indicated it is the Government's intention to introduce next year, room will be found for an amendment of the present system of voting by the introduction of the system known as the alternative vote, so as to meet the case of multiple candidatures, as recommended by the recent 20 Royal Commission appointed to inquire into electoral systems?
§ Sir HILDRED CARLILEasked whether, in view of the intention of the Government to introduce a Manhood Suffrage Bill, he can give any approximate estimate of the number of naturalised foreigners who will thereby be placed on the register; and whether any special test, educational or otherwise, will be introduced to prevent in certain constituencies the swamping of the British vote by that of foreigners, who in many cases are unable to speak the language?
§ Mr. MALCOLMasked the Prime Minister when he intends to inform the House of Commons of his decision to introduce an Adult Suffrage Bill into Parliament next Session and to acquaint the House with such details of the Bill as have recently been given by him to a deputation; and whether such Bill will take precedence of the promised measure for expanding the Preamble of the Parliament Act into a Bill?
§ Sir HENRY KIMBERasked whether in, or in connection with, the Suffrage Bill which he proposes to introduce next Session, he will deal with the redistribution of seats in this House; and whether he will adopt the principle of proportional representation or any other system for the representation of minorities?
§ Mr. CARR-GOMMasked if the Government intend to carry out a redistribution of seats before the General Election is held on the new franchise which will be set up by the proposed Reform Bill; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of instituting, as is the case in Canada, a permanent Commission, whose duty it will be to redistribute the electoral areas of the country according to the fluctuations of the population once in every ten years?
§ Baron de FORESTasked whether it is the intention of the Government that the proposed extension of the franchise shall extend to the local government as well as to the Parliamentary electorate?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt would seem that in some quarters a good deal has been read into a statement made by me to a deputation last week which it did not contain. I am responsible, and the Government are responsible, only for what I actually said. I repeated what I have said publicly on several occasions during the 21 last two years, that there is, in my opinion, urgent need for such a reform of our franchise law as will substitute for the present complicated and illogical network of suffrages a simple, residential qualification. I added—and this was the only new thing in my statement—that the Government hoped to introduce proposals next year. Legislation on the subject is overdue, and its urgency is increased by recent decisions, which, on purely technical grounds, have disfranchised and are disfranchising thousands of electors. It is obvious that I cannot at this stage, as asked in several of these questions, anticipate details. In my opinion any large reconstruction of our franchise law must be followed, as a logical corollary—by an equitable redistribution of representation.
§ Mr. CARR-GOMMWill the Prime Minister look into the matter of instituting as in the case of Canada, a permanent Commission, whose duty it will be to distribute the electoral areas of the country?
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYWhen the right hon. Gentleman says "introduce," does he mean to say it will be effectively passed through the House of Commons?
§ The PRIME MINISTERTime will show.
§ Mr. HAROLD SMITHWill the result of the right hon. Gentleman's recommendations be: one man one vote, one vote one value?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat in a rhetorical way approximately represents it.
§ Sir H. KIMBERWill the Government's plan include the principle of proportionate representation?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot go into these details now, but they will be all most carefully considered.
§ Mr. HAROLD SMITHasked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to give a week or more of Parliamentary time next Session, as promised, for the discussion of the Conciliation Bill in addition to the time available for the discussion of female suffrage which will be furnished by amendments adding the enfranchisement of women to the terms of the Manhood Suffrage Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe promise made in regard to the Conciliation Bill will of course hold good, unless the promoters waive its performance.