§ 80. Major LANE-FOXasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the introduction of legislation making it compulsory, during the period of the War, that any Member of this House who has been definitely requested to resign by the official association of the party which he represents in his constituency should at once submit himself to re-election or automatically cease to be a Member of the House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir. I am not prepared, at the present time, to recommend the introduction of such legislation, which would certainly be of a controversial character.
§ Major LANE-FOXDoes the right hon. Gentleman not propose to do anything to deal with the scandal of those Members, there being no chance of a General Election at present, who use this House for the purpose of expressing views they dare not express outside?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I cannot add to my answer. It is necessarily a controversial matter.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the fact that they dare not express their views outside is due to repressive legislation, and will he remove the Defence of the Realm Act so that we may express our views outside?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Defence of the Realm Act does not in the least impede hon. Members from expressing their views outside.