§ 34. Mr. J. P. MORRISasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider proposing the appointment of a Select Committee of this House to examine and report on the advisability of amending 1813 the Standing Orders and Rules of the House, whether by imposing a time limit for speeches or otherwise, so as to give to back-bench Members greater opportunities of participating in important Debates?
§ Mr. BALDWINI do not think that any useful purpose would be served by the appointment of a Select Committee to consider imposing a time limit on the length of hon. Members' speeches. I venture to suggest to the House that the solution rests with the right hon. and hon. Members themselves and, in this connection, I would commend to their notice the remarks made by Mr. Speaker on 3rd November, 1931, and also in reply to a question put to him on the 2nd June, 1932.
§ Mr. MORRISIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is grave discontent among his own back-bench supporters caused by certain right hon. Gentlemen speaking too long and too frequently, that such discontent is not conducive to consistent enthusiasm for diligent application to Parliamentary duties, and will he, in the light of this information, please reconsider his decision?
§ Mr. DINGLE FOOTCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government have any control over the right hon. Gentleman in question?
§ Mr. BALDWINIn regard to that my withers are completely unwrung, I have been a Member of the House for many years and I have never known a period, even when I was a back bencher, when I did not share entirely and fully the complaint made by the hon. Member.
§ Sir BASIL PETOMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he does not think that the new arrangement whereby in the OFFICIAL REPORT the time of the Commencement of every speech is printed before the hon. Member's name will, if it is given a fair chance, conduce to shortening speeches?
§ Mr. BALDWINI do not think that would be the case. It seems to me that the longer the speech the better pleased the constituents.
§ Mr. MORRISIf I bring evidence in support of the large extent to which my proposals are supported by back bench 1814 Members in this House, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision?
§ Mr. BALDWINI do not think it is a case of reconsidering my decision. I am perfectly well aware of the feeling and always have been aware of it. The only remedy, if this House is to be a House of free debate, rests with the House itself.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not a fact that some speeches seem very long but are very short?
§ Mr. SPEAKERDoes the hon. Member rise to a point of Order?
§ Mr. HALESYes. I should like to ask, speaking as one of those who suffer from this disability, whether a vote of the House could not be taken on the question?