§ 49. Mr. DIXEYasked the Prime Minister,whether in view of the national emergency and the dislocation caused to trade by the length of time necessitated under the present rule as to elections, he will consider introducing legislation to 1282 shorten the period betwen the issue of the writ and the declaration of the poll?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir. I cannot see my way to introduce such legislation.
§ Mr. DIXEYDoes not the Prime Minister appreciate that such a Bill would be desirable in view of the necessity for an early election, seeing that it would remove a lot of the disadvantages of the present position?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's premises.
§ Commander O. LOCKER-LAMPSONWill the Government avoid a plunge into an election?
§ Mr. W. J. BROWNOn a point of Order. In view of the fact that we still have 17 minutes of Question Time left, and there are only four more questions on the Order Paper, may we not be allowed to ask supplementary questions?
§ Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONOn that point of Order. Is the fact that we have 17 minutes left any reason for wasting time?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI see no reason why, because there is plenty of time, every question should be turned into a Debate.