§ 45. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister whether he will introduce amending legislation to the Parliament Act, 1911, substituting four years for five as the maximum duration of Parliament.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)I have been asked to reply.
No, Sir.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that Answer is not very surprising, in view of the recent Gallup Poll results? Nevertheless, would not he agree that five years is a rather long time to keep the British public from expressing an opinion, and will he reconsider the matter?
§ Mr. ButlerI see no reason to alter one of the fundamentals of the British constitution, as laid down in the 1911 Act, nor do I think that any ephemeral considerations should be brought into account.