§ 46. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked the Prime Minister whether he could arrange in future to give notice of all Money Resolutions on Bills by having the same printed on the Order Paper in sufficient time to allow of Amendments being put down to them?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I see no sufficient reason to depart from the usual practice of the House in regard to this matter, but the question will no doubt be considered by the Select Committee on Procedure.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes the Prime Minister not realise the difficulty which, as a matter of fact, occurred only last week when Members were suggesting Amendments to a Resolution they could not possibly have seen?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe have gone a great deal further than our predecessors by putting these Resolutions on the Paper. I very much deprecate the practice which has grown up of discussing details twice—both on the Resolution and on the Bill.
§ 47. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Eleven o'clock Rule is now suspended, and that Members are also being asked to sit on Committees after 2.45 when the House is sitting; and "whether he will consider the possibility of changing an arrangement which leaves so much of the Session without Committee work, and crowds the bulk of it into the last few 20 weeks, when sufficient time cannot be given to a considered discussion of useful measures?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis is also a matter which might, I think, well be considered by the Select Committee on Procedure.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration this suggestion: that next Session he provide an early day in order that the Second Readings of the Scottish Bills may be taken, so that the Bills may be sent up to Committee at the beginning of the Session and not crowded into the last three weeks?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid if I were to promise that, a similar request would be preferred by England, Ireland, and Wales.
§ Mr. GRETTONHave the Committee on Procedure any influence on the arrangement of Government business?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is appointed for that purpose.
§ Sir W. BYLESHas the right hon. Gentleman noticed how empty the benches are during Question Time? Is he aware that several large Committees are seated upstairs at the present moment, that Ministers who ought to be there are here, and that Ministers who ought to be here are there?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is a matter which the Select Committee on Procedure may well consider.
§ Sir W. BYLESWill the right hon. Gentleman refer this particular question of procedure to the Committee?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt comes, I believe, within the scope of their inquiry.