§ 48. Mr. Wiggasked the Prime Minister whether he will review the undertaking given on 4th November, 1947, by the then Leader of the House, on the procedure to be followed on the consideration of the Service Estimates, with a view to amending this procedure.
§ The Prime MinisterAny changes in our procedure should only be made after careful consideration by the House as a whole. If there is a general feeling in the House that this procedure should be changed, it would seem to be a matter which could be discussed through the usual channels; but, of course, as this particularly affects private Members, such discussions could only be of an exploratory nature.
§ Mr. WiggWould the right hon. Gentleman be good enough, then, to take steps to bring the usual channels into consultation with back-bench Members, and perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would join this discussion himself in the latter capacity?
§ The Prime MinisterI should be quite ready to further the promotion of discussions through the usual channels. Ido not think that the hon. Gentleman would expect me to go further than that.