HC Deb 20 March 1940 vol 358 cc1978-9
46. Mr. A. Edwards

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider proposing a change in procedure which will enable the House to register its votes without the waste of time inevitable under the present procedure?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon)

The question of improving the method of taking Divisions has been considered, but no solution has been put forward which on examination has proved satisfactory.

Mr. Edwards

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that recently visitors to the public galleries witnessed a procedure in this House in which for more than an hour and a-half more than 100 Members paraded through the Lobbies in seven successive Divisions, when the matter could have been disposed of by a single vote?

Mr. McGovern

Is there any need for hon. Members to vote at all, seeing that the whipping system is in operation? Why should not the Whips be given the right to cast the vote?