§ 15. Mr. WINGasked the right hon. Member for West Essex, as representing the Kitchen Committee, if he, in conjunction with the members in the Committee over which he presides, will approach the Government with a view to their giving the Members of the House of Commons an opportunity of expressing their wishes as to the propriety, under present national conditions, of suspending the sale of intoxicants at the bars and other places of sale in the House of Commons, or at least imposing upon the Members of Parliament similar restrictions to those already imposed on their constituents?
§ Colonel LOCKWOODI regret that I have nothing to add to what was said in Debate on the Resolution moved by the 1104 hon. Member on 20th April, 1915. On that occasion my right hon. Friend, who is now the Leader of the House, said:
Obviously this is a question which ought to be discussed by Members of the House as individuals, and not in connection with any party ties."—[OFPICIAI. REPORT, 20th April, 1015, col. 228, Vol. LXXI.]Those of my colleagues on the Committee that I have seen are still of that opinion, and it is for the hon. Member to again ask the House for time to discuss it, and to issue an Instruction to us, on the lines adopted, which we will endeavour to carry out.
§ Sir STEPHEN COLLINSWill the right hon. Gentleman call us together under his chairmanship to discuss this matter?
§ Colonel LOCKWOODNot having that title, I can hardly answer that question.
§ Mr. WINGMay I ask a representative of the Government if he will ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give the House an opportunity of really deciding this question?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir George Cave)I will communicate that to my right hon. Friend.