HC Deb 26 March 1925 vol 182 c613
48. Captain BOWYER

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give facilities for the Second Reading of the Bastardy Bill?

The PRIME MINISTER

The Government do not propose to grant special facilities for this Bill.

Captain BOWYER

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Bill would have a good chance of passing were it not blocked from the Treasury Bench, and will he do his best to remove that block

The PRIME MINISTER

I am afraid that I cannot give an affirmative answer to that question. I should say that my answer is applicable only to the present. The question may be reconsidered later, but there is no prospect of making time in the present state of public business for a Private Member's Bill.

Captain BOWYER

Does the Prime Minister realise that all I am asking for is to get the Second Reading in order that the matter may be fully debated—it is an agreed Measure—in Committee and on the Floor of the House on Report?

The PRIME MINISTER

I quite realise that. I think, however, in the case of a very important Bill of this kind there should be a full Debate on the Second Reading.