§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Home Secretary whether the Proportional Representation Commissioners will hold any inquiries in connection with Liverpool; and, if so, will political associations, municipal authorities, public men, and voters generally be entitled to give evidence or express opinions upon any scheme which may be proposed?
§ Sir G. CAVE; I understand that a local inquiry is to be held at Liverpool and that at this inquiry, as at all other inquiries proposed to be held by the Commissioners, an opportunity will be afforded to all persons interested to attend and be heard.
§ Sir FRANCIS LOWEasked the Home Secretary whether the Commissioners appointed under the Representation of the People Act to suggest a scheme for applying proportional representation to 100 selected constituencies have sent out emissaries to ascertain local views on this question; whether these emissaries have been sympathetically received; and whether they have discovered in any of the constituencies visited that there exists any great knowledge of the subject or any real desire on the part of the electors to be included in the scheme?
§ Sir G. CAVEI am informed that the Commissioners propose to ascertain local feeling with regard to the application of proportional representation in those areas which they select for the purpose by means of local inquiries, of which due notice will be given in the locality. None of those inquiries have yet been held.