HC Deb 15 November 1917 vol 99 cc585-730

Order read for Consideration, as amended.

Sir F. BANBURY

I desire to move the recommittal of this Bill, in order that the House may have an opportunity of con- sidering the Instructions given to the Commissioners in regard to seats in Ireland, and generally the whole question of Irish redistribution.

Mr. SPEAKER

Does the right hon. Gentleman move to recommit the whole Bill?

Sir. F. BANBURY

The Government have given notice that they intend to insert in the Schedule a Clause providing for the redistribution of seats in Ireland. They have already appointed a Commission, who are proceeding with the redistribution of seats in Ireland. In these circumstances, as the Motion will be made on the Report stage, is it not in order to move that the Bill should be recommitted in order that the proposals of the Government may be made in Committee, where they can be properly considered, rather than on Report, where the House will not have the same opportunity of considering them as they would have if they were made in Committee?

Mr. SPEAKER

The right hon. Gentleman has given no notice of anything of that sort. He has moved to recommit the whole Bill. If his Amendment were accepted, the Bill would have to be gone through Clause by Clause. He has made no provision for dealing with the matter in question.

Sir F. BANBURY

If this Bill is recommitted it would be possible to put in such a Clause as I suggest, and to deal with that Clause.

Mr. SPEAKER

The right hon. Member should have moved to recommit the Bill in respect of some particular thing. He has given notice of a general recommittal of the Bill, but he is now trying to show that it is necessary to recommit the Bill in order to deal with a particular matter.

Sir F. BANBURY

I want it to be recommitted in respect of Irish redistribution. There is no Clause in the Bill dealing with Irish redistribution, and I think it would be possible to recommit the Bill in order to insert a Clause of that description.

Mr. SPEAKER

The right hon. Member should have moved in the ordinary way to recommit the Bill in order to insert a Clause dealing with something in particular. He has not done that, but has moved for a general recommittal.

Sir F. BANBURY

It is a little difficult., I do not know whether the Home Secretary heard the observations I have made. Perhaps he will consent to the Bill being recommitted, and when it is recommitted we can deal with the question which I desire to raise.

Mr. SPEAKER

That will not have the effect which the right hon. Gentleman desires. We shall then begin at the beginning of the Bill and go through it all. The right hon. Gentleman desires to insert a Clause with respect to redistribution in Ireland, but he has given no notice of that.

Sir F. BANBURY

Am I right in saying that it is too late to remedy the Motion in that direction now? If it is possible to amend it I will amend it in that way in respect to Irish redistribution.

Mr. SPEAKER

There is no proposal before us or Clause dealing with Irish redistribution. The right hon. Gentleman should have prepared some scheme which he wishes to be inserted in the Bill. The first New Clause on the Paper (The Disqualification of Certain Persons who Refuse Military Service) should come as an Amendment to Clause 8. The same applies to the second New Clause (Disqualification of Persons who have been Interned). The next Clause (Persons Legally Employed in All Elections not Disqualified as Voters) should come as an Amendment to Clause 1. The next one (Interval Between Nomination and Poll) is dealt with already in Clause 18, and if any alteration is to be made, it should be moved as an Amendment to that Clause. The next New Clause (Franchises (Companies and Other Bodies) should come as an Amendment to Clause 1. The same applies to the next New Clause (Saving the Existing Livery Franchise in City of London).

Sir G. TOUCHE

In regard to the livery vote, the Chairman of Committees permitted that to be moved as a new Clause. I do not quite understand why it cannot be moved in that way now if it was permitted in Committee.

Mr. SPEAKER

My opinion is that it should come as an Amendment to Clause 1. Clause 1 is the main franchising Clause which sets up the provisions as to the enfranchising of men, and these men may get the franchise if they are added when we come to Clause 1.

Bill, as amended, considered

    cc616-24
  1. NEW CLAUSE—(Right to the Use of Elementary Schools.) 3,506 words
    2. cc624-7
  2. NEW CLAUSE.—(Qualification for Membership of Local Authority.) 944 words
    3. cc627-71
  3. CLAUSE 1.—(Parliamentary Franchises (Men).) 18,755 words, 1 division
    4. cc671-83
  4. CLAUSE 3.—(Local Government Franchise (Men).) 4,610 words
    5. cc683-730
  5. CLAUSE 4.—(Franchises (Women).) 19,337 words
    6. c730
  6. GREECE. 286 words