HC Deb 31 March 1919 vol 114 cc866-7
60. Mr. BOTTOMLEY

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the recent demonstration in Edinburgh of the counting of votes upon the principle of proportional representation in connection with which 5,000 ballot papers were issued, the result of the poll, conducted under the auspices of the Scottish Education Department, being Bottomley 1, Lloyd George 2, Hogge 3, Balfour 4, Asquith 5; and whether, in view of this result, the Government will reconsider the question of adopting the system of proportional representation in future elections?

Mr. BONAR LAW

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and in spite of a result which must commend itself to my hon. Friend, the Government are not prepared to adopt the course suggested in the last part of the question.

Mr. BOTTOMLEY

Has that decision been arrived at by any reference to the fact that, by some freak or other, the right hon. Gentleman himself and several of his colleagues were much further down on the poll than I was?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I can only say that we were not influenced by that, nor by the fact that the hon. Member was at the head of it!

Mr. HOGGE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the first trial my hon. Friend was at the other end of the poll?

Mr. DEVLIN

In view of the fact that I propose shortly to introduce a Bill giving proportional representation to England and Scotland, will the right hon. Gentleman secure sufficient time to carry it through?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I am afraid my hon. Friend must use his own energies for that purpose.

Mr. DEVLIN

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman introduced a Bill and afterwards passed it for Ireland, is it not now desirable that I, a private Member, should propose the same beneficial advantage to this country, and that the right hon. Gentleman should ensure the facilities in the House to get it through?

Mr. BONAR LAW

If we decide to do it, we shall do it ourselves.

Mr. R. McNEILL

In view of the fact disclosed in the question, will the Government refrain from inflicting this treatment on Ireland?

Major O'NEILL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for the Falls Division (Mr. Devlin) did not vote for this beneficial measure for Ireland?

Mr. DEVLIN

I will answer that my self—