§ 71. Mr. LYNCHasked the Secretary of State for War whether, following the precedent created by Lord Kitchener, he will arrange to meet the Members of the House in secret Session?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIf there is a general desire among Members that I should arrange to meet them in secret Session I will consider the suggestion of my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill my right hon. Friend avoid addressing sections of the House when he can address the whole of us?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIf any section of the House wishes to meet me to ask any questions, of course I will meet them, but only at their request. Of course, I certainly could meet any section of the House. One or two sections of the House have asked me to receive them with regard to certain questions, and I assented. I shall be only too happy to meet them.
§ Mr. J. O'CONNORIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Lord Kitchener appealed to the Members then present not to put so many questions on the Paper, and they have increased enormously ever since?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI agree with my hon. Friend, and I wish the appeal of Lord Kitchener had been responded to, because it is not so much that it takes up the time of Ministers, but it takes up the time of very important officials in the Department who are engaged in most anxious work. Only this morning it was stated that it was quite paralysing to have to deal with the questions.
§ Mr. S. ROBERTSWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the suggestion I made to the Prime Minister the other day that each Member shall be restricted to two questions per day?