§ 50. Mr. THURTLEasked the Prime Minister if he is prepared to recommend to the House the appointment of a Select Committee to consider and report on the hours of sitting of the House, with a view to the introduction of such changes as may be desirable from the point of view of the convenience of Members?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think I cannot do better than repeat the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition to a similar question addressed to him on the 4th March last year by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Ken-worthy), with which I am in complete agreement. He said:
I do not think that the hon. and gallant Member's proposal is practicable. Even under existing conditions the pressure of public business renders it most difficult for Ministers to find adequate time for the despatch of the business of their Departments, and if the House were to meet earlier, their task in this respect would be made impossible."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 4th March, 1924; cols. 1214–5, Vol. 170.]
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that many years ago this House met at 2 o'clock instead of 2.30, and is he not aware that nobody would be inconvenienced by meeting to-day at 2 o'clock and adjourning at 9.45 p.m.?
Lieut. - Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers, may I ask if the hon. Gentleman is speaking only on behalf of himself, or on behalf of the whole of the Members of this House?
§ Mr. THORNEI am speaking on behalf of the intelligent ones, the Members on this side of the House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is not the time for those pleasantries.