§ 48. Major Stourtonasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the hostility of the general public to a General Election while international tension persists; and whether, in view of the repeated Ministerial appeals to lay aside party strife in the public interest to meet a common danger, and of the recent action of the French Government in this connection, he will consider introducing legislation to amend Section 7 of the Parliament Act of 1911 so as to extend the duration of the present Parliament for a further two years?
§ Mr. BennOn a point of Order. In reference to this question, I understood that matters of argument were not to be introduced into questions. This question appears to consist of some ideas of the hon. Member of an argumentative and, I may add, a rather muddled kind, which I should have thought were unsuitable for a question.
§ Mr. SpeakerIt does not appear to be more argumentative than a great many other questions which are put on the Paper.
§ The Prime MinisterI should not be prepared to consider such a suggestion as is contained in my hon. and gallant Friend's question without some evidence of a general desire for the postponement of a General Election beyond the statutory term. At present I see no evidence of this kind.
§ Major StourtonIs my right hon. Friend aware that in the interest of the security of the State it would be better to postpone a General Election until the prospects of peace are much more assured than at present?
§ Mr. Dingle FootIs there any connection between the appearance of this question on the Paper, and the somewhat diminutive Conservative majority in South Salford at the last General Election?