§ Mr. MacNEILLasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been directed to the statement in the judgment of Mr. Justice Channell in the East Nottingham election petition, in which, while holding that the promiscuous distribution of charity did not vacate the seat, the learned Judge said that the evidence proved that the sitting Member determined that the charity should as a rule be given to his own constituents, and that he recognised that this charity would be likely to assist him at any future election, while he also handed over the work to Mr. Berryman, who was his political agent and known as such; and whether, having regard to the remark of the learned Judge in reference to this practice, that it was for the legislature to forbid it and not for them, steps will be taken by the Government for the introduction of legislation in the interests of the purity of elections to bring within the category of corrupt practices this method of seeking the favour of constituencies
Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of recent events, he can see his way to introduce legislation to remove the disadvantages from which poor men suffer as candidates for Parliament by limiting the amount which a candidate or Member may distribute in charity, subscriptions, and in other ways in the constituency for which he is standing within twelve months before any election?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can only refer my hon. Friends to the answer which I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton.