§ 46. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the feeling among women, especially among those who expect soon to exercise the Parliamentary franchise, that there should be no further legislation on criminal law amendment lines till after the next General Election; and whether, in order to respect this feeling and to save the time and energies of Parliament for more pressing affairs, he will decline to move for the Joint Select Committee on this subject to which the House of Lords invites, or whether he will defer the moving of such Committee till representatives of female opinion have been consulted?
§ Sir G. CAVEMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Bill recently introduced in another place deals with pressing questions arising largely from war conditions. It is desirable that these questions should receive early consideration and that the views of those who take a special interest in them should be ascertained, and I hope that the proposal to refer the measure to a Joint Select Committee, on which this House will be represented, is one that will commend itself to the House and to the persons interested.