§ 53. Mr. SAKLATVALAasked the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to submit for the consideration of the House proposals for modernising the existing rules for the presentation of petitions to Parliament, such as the necessity of the same being handwritten and the exact. repetition of the wording of the prayer on each sheet containing signatures, as such rules cannot generally be made known to the people in Great Britain or the Colonies who desire to petition this House?
§ Mr. AMERYThe Prime Minister is not aware of any general desire in favour of any alteration in the existing rules, but if he were convinced that such a desire existed, he would be prepared to consult the Committee of the House which deals with petitions.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that recently a petition which was sent in by teachers against education economy, and on which they had spent a considerable amount of money and time, was sent back simply because it happened to be printed—which form the public take to be the right form—and is he also aware. that another petition from 'the people of Bombay had to be sent back with a request that it should be 1669 made out in handwriting; and, in view of these instances, is the right hon. Gentleman taking any steps?