§ 51. Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that 1611 when the number of Standing Committees was increased, and the practice of referring Public Bills to such Committees was developed, Standing Order 49a was adopted for the purpose of relieving the strain upon Members engaged in Committee work; and whether, in view of the fact that, in addition to other Committee work, Standing Committee B proposes to have morning and afternoon sessions, that Standing Committee C has been holding morning and afternoon sessions for some time, and that Standing Committee D proposes to follow suit, he will consider whether any steps can be taken for relieving the heavy pressure upon Members which has become customary at this period of the Session?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am aware that at this period of the Session Committee work imposes an additional burden upon Members, but I am afraid that, if the House is to adjourn at a reasonable date for the Summer Recess, in view of the large amount of business to be disposed of, I cannot hold out any hope of being able to put Standing Order 49a into operation.
§ Mr. ALEXANDERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the present arrangement of Government business upstairs makes it impossible for the ordinary Member to attend to his duties here? On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons this week more than 200 Members will be expected to be in Committees upstairs, and it is quite impossible for the work here to be done properly.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat still leaves 400 Members to carry on the work of the House, and although I much regret the congestion, which is common to this period of the Session, it may be that it will have two results—it may induce hon. Members to have some sympathy with the Ministers, and it may also lead to members of the Committees paying more attention to the really essential parts of the Bill than to the non-essential.
§ Mr. ALEXANDERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of his Ministers have refused a reasonable request that we should meet on Wednesday morning, instead of meeting in the afternoons under an arrangement made simply for the convenience of Ministers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe difficulty about Wednesday morning—this again shows the state of congestion—is that on Wednesday mornings there is always a meeting of the Cabinet.
§ Mr. B. PETOIs the Prime Minister aware that so far as Standing Committee B is concerned, where it is that the proceedings have given rise to this question, the difficulty is entirely in the hands of the hon. Member who put the question, and at most two or three other Members?