§ Q5. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation scheduling the minimum requisite number of persons to be made members of the Upper House with full voting rights on the coming into force of the Act, in order to redress the present political imbalance.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I said in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend on 13th April, I would not feel it right to propose any change in the constitutional position without first seeking an electoral mandate.
§ Mr. HamiltonMy right hon. Friend should not drag his feet like that. May I hasten to declare my singular lack of interest? Since my right hon. Friend said on another occasion that there was no lack of aspirants in our own movement for elevation to the other place, will he give an assurance that their rather queer ambitions will be satisfied if the occasion should arise?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not remember qualifying my answer in that way. I think that the answer, which was to a 1510 supplementary question, referred to hon. Members who belong to the party opposite, who I would not consider part of our movement.