§ Mr. LYNCHI desire, Sir, to ask your ruling with reference to a practice which is well illustrated by a Bill which has been under discussion in Committee upstairs. The title of the Act will eventually be the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1912, but in the copies of the Bill presented to us appear the words "Criminal Law Amendment (White Slave Traffic) Bill." Some Members of the Committee objected to those words on the ground that they conveyed a false impression as to the scope of the Bill, and savour less of the gravity of Parliament than of the catchwords of the new journalism. I ask, Sir, what control can Parliament exercise over those titles?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have considered this matter since the hon. Member spoke to me with regard to it, and I would point out that the authorities of the Public Bill Office, the Clerks at the Table, and myself have no control over the short index titles which hon. Members choose to put to their Bills. A Bill, as the hon. Member is aware, is either presented at the Table, or leave is asked to introduce, it, before the contents are known, and therefore there is no opportunity of checking the index title with the contents. I see that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Sheffield (Mr. Stuart-Wortley) has given notice of a new Standing Order with regard to this matter. I think it will hardly be necessary to trouble the House to make a new Standing Order with regard to it, but what I would propose—and I believe the House will assent to the proposal I am going to make—is that in the event of any complaint being made to me that the index title of a Bill does not properly set out the contents of the Bill, or misrepresents in some way the contents of the Bill, I will investigate it in conjunction with the Public Bill Office, and I will then take upon myself the duty of correcting it and bringing the Bill into accord with the long and short title.