HC Deb 03 April 1913 vol 51 cc536-7
46. Sir HENRY CRAIK

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the present arrangement by which officials are admitted to seats behind the Chair is, in the opinion of many hon. Members, injurious to the conduct of debate in this House and does not conduce to the satisfactory examination of administrative matters by the House, he will afford to the House an early opportunity of reconsidering the arrangement?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)

When the present arrangement was made it was fully discussed in the House, and received the approval, amongst others, of the then Leader of the Opposition. In my opinion experience has shown that the new arrangement has facilitated discussion of business and has contributed to the convenience of Members of the House as a whole. The hon. Member will, however, have an opportunity of raising the question this afternoon if he desires to do so.

Sir H. CRAIK

I shall do so.

Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

Was not the arrangement made for the purpose of keeping the permanent officials as much as possible out of sight?

Mr. WATT

May I ask whether, when these seats were allocated, it was on the understanding that the officials were only to be there when public business required them to be there?

The PRIME MINISTER

I do not know about that.