asked the Home Secretary if he can say how many certificates of naturalisation have been granted to Germans and Austrians who made their applications upon, or just before, the outbreak of the War; and whether any such certificates are now being granted to such nationals resident in this country who applied in such circumstances?

As I stated last Thursday, twelve certificates of naturalisation have been granted to Germans since the war began; three certificates have been granted to Austrians and Hungarians. The Act gives me full discretion to grant or refuse such certificates as I think most conducive to the public good, and this consideration guides me whether the applications were made before or after the outbreak of war.

Is it the case that when a person is naturalised in England he is not required to renounce allegiance to his own country; and, if that is so, is not England exceptional in that respect?

I should have to have notice of that question.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that telegraph wires have been cut and bombs and firearms and carrier pigeons found in possession of alien enemies, he can see his way to pass a short law ordaining that all persons found either attempting to obtain or to communicate information useful to the enemy, or to commit any act of injury or destruction, should be handed over to the military authorities to be dealt with according to military law?

Under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, the police and military authorities already have full powers to deal with acts of the kind referred to if any should occur. Since the War began there has been no single case of a telegraph wire being maliciously cut, nor has any bomb been found in the possession of any alien.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give the House any information as to the safety of the North Sea for ordinary shipping, and as to the methods which are being adopted by Germany to sow mines near to the English coast?

Instructions are issued from time to time to shipowners giving routes which can be followed without undue risk according to the latest information in the possession of the Admiralty. It would appear that the German method is to lay mines in the open sea without any regard to loss that may be caused to peaceful traders.

Has attention been given to the encouraged traffic in trawling by foreign trawlers between the Moray Firth and Dutch and German ports? Might not that traffic well be responsible for some of the mines?

I cannot answer that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the question?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received a Resolution passed by the Corporation of Glasgow asking the Government to make more adequate provision for the wives and dependants of recruits; and whether, in view of the fact that in a very large number of cases the provision made is a very considerable reduction in the family income, the Government will favourably consider the possibility of giving an increase?

asked the Prime Minister whether, before making his statement as to the weekly amount to be paid to the wives and mothers of serving soldiers, he will take into consideration the fact that it has been widely published by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Association that a wife without children or a mother dependent on her son will receive not less than 12s. 6d. a week, and that wives with children, according to their number, will receive up to £1 a week?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I will answer the latter part and Question No. 28 together. I hope to be able to make a statement on the subject before the end of the Session.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great deal of the hardship arises from the length of time it takes to get the separation allowance—very often three weeks or more elapse—and also from the length of time it takes to get the bounty? Will he take that into consideration?

Yes; these matters are carefully engaging our attention.

When the right hon. Gentleman makes a statement, may we take it that he will make it quite clear that when breadwinners have gone to the War, wives, mothers, and sisters will not be left destitute? Did the right hon. Gentleman get a letter that I sent him?

All these points will be considered.

asked the Prime Minister if any official information has been received of acts committed by the German soldiery, such as firing under cover of or upon the Red Cross flag, the killing and maiming of wounded, which are a violation of the ordinary rules of war and in conflict with the provisions of The Hague Convention, to which Germany was a party; and if he will consider as to the issue of an authoritative statement on the subject and of taking any necessary steps to secure a complete record of all such acts, alike for the guidance of the Army in the field and also to enable the full facts to be placed at the proper time before the Governments of neutral nations?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received any official information as to the killing of women and children, of inoffensive persons and non-combatants, and of the killing and maiming of our wounded soldiers; and, if so, whether he will have the evidence of such cruelties carefully taken and sifted and have all the evidence which confirms such outrages published to the world?

In reply to these questions, I understand that no official information has reached my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for War. The subject is, however, under consideration and inquiries are being made.

In view of the possibility of reports emanating from this country not receiving on the Continent that credence to which they are entitled, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of communicating with the official members of the American Embassy or the Consulate in London, and getting them to publish the facts of the case?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that far less wheat than usual will be grown in Germany, Austria, France, and Belgium next year, the price is most likely to be 35s. a quarter or more, he will reconsider his decision and guarantee that farmers growing wheat next year shall receive not less than 35s. a quarter for all wheat suitable for making bread; and is he aware that, although this would in all probability cost the Government little or nothing, it would be an encouragement to farmers and probably cause more than double the amount to be produced next year?

The Prime Minister has asked me to take this question. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part does not therefore arise.

Can the hon. Baronet say why the answer to the first part is in the negative? Is he aware that if the Government would guarantee to pay the 35s. it would make an enormous difference, especially to small farmers?

Yes, but the question at issue is how much difference! The amount of difference would not be anything like as great as is estimated by the hon. Member.

Is the hon. Baronet aware that farmers in general state that they would double the area of wheat if the Government would grant this concession?

I am aware that farmers say that.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that ninety-four warrant officers recalled from leave to India, and for the most part married men belonging to the Indian Army Departments, have been obliged to leave their families behind them and have not been granted the separation allowance allowed to warrant officers belonging to the British Service and to non-commissioned officers and men in the British Army on field service on and off the strength; and, if so, whether the Secretary of State proposes to take any action in the matter?

It has already been decided that the families left in this country by warrant and noncommissioned officers of Indian Army Departments recalled from leave in consequence of the War shall receive the same separation allowances from the State as the families of similar grades in the British Service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can say whether, in the case of an ex-corporal of the transport branch of the Army Service Corps, anxious to rejoin the Army, now employed in the Supreme Court of Judicature in a subordinate position as a piece-worker (typist) if he rejoined the Army, enough (typist) pay would be allowed to make up with military pay the amount ordinarily earned as typist, and if the place would be kept open till the end of the War?

The answer is in the affirmative.

Is the hon. Member aware that there are a great many men in the Supreme Court of Judicature and the Royal Courts of Justice who are very anxious to join the Army on these conditions if he will let his answer be known?

The terms in regard to members of the Civil Service have already been published, and the question of the hon. Member will make it further known that they will not lose anything by joining the Colours.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, with the view of assisting recruiting, some badge or document can be given to men who have offered themselves for enlistment and been refused?

The object the hon. Member has in view is already secured in another way. A man refused on medical grounds has a statement to that effect entered on his notice paper, and he retains this notice paper in his possession. The "notice paper" is given to every recruit offering himself and it states the general conditions of the contract to be entered into.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that in the hurry of recruiting no notice papers are handed to the rejected recruit? To my personal knowledge, I have seen men with tears in their eyes because they have been refused. Is it not possible that he might be given some simple kind of badge so that he might be known in his village as a man who had not shirked his duty?

I think the notice paper ought not to be omitted. [HON. MEMBERS: "But it is!"] I am sorry to hear it. I shall certainly try to see that it is not omitted in future.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give some other answer? It is quite impossible for recruiting officers, when they are dealing with hundreds of cases, to see that the notice papers are given to the recruits. It is so simple to do what is asked.

I will look into the matter.

Would the right hon. Gentleman remember how easy it would be for a simple badge to be copied by those who never intended to enlist?

Would it not be very much better to take all who present themselves for enlistment and give them some kind of military drill?

The men we are considering now are men rejected by the doctor on medical grounds.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the feeling of many of these men who have presented themselves, and who are unfortunately taunted for not having, according to the outer world, offered themselves to the recruiting officer; will the right hon. Gentleman once more consider the advisability or otherwise of allowing some badge to be given?

Of course I fully appreciate and sympathise with the position of the men alluded to, and I shall certainly consider what has been put before me.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is in a position to state the number of local education authorities that have put into force the Act recently passed for the feeding of school children during holidays?

On the same day as the Act became law a circular was issued to all local education authorities calling attention to the extended powers given them by the Act, and urging that prompt steps should be taken to prepare for any emergency that might arise. The returns since received do not enable me to say to what extent advantage has been taken of the Act to provide meals out of the rates before the schools reopened, but a number of authorities have certainly used the Act to provide meals on Saturdays and Sundays.

Will the right hon. Gentleman supply Members, on request, with a copy of the circular?

Yes, I shall be glad to send a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a firm of British publishers who published copyright works of an alien enemy during the War would be able to continue publication after the conclusion of the War, or if not, would they be able to dispose of all stocks in hand at the conclusion of the War without incurring the penalties for infringement of copyright?

I am advised that at the conclusion of the War claims for accounts and for damages for infringement during the War would be entertained by our Courts.

asked what Grant is made to recruits in the Territorial Force; and whether such Grant as is made includes provision for one or more pairs of boots suitable for long marches?

A payment of 10s. is made to each non-commissioned officer and man of the Territorial Force called up on embodiment, and to each recruit enlisted subsequently, who is in possession of a certain prescribed kit of necessaries in good order. This kit includes a pair of ankle boots. No payment is made to a non-commissioned officer or man who is deficient of any article required, but the county association concerned is authorised to complete any deficiencies at the public expense.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that recruits for the Territorial Force have been marching through Kent and Middlesex with boots that were very inefficient?

I was not aware of that. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will bring that instance more fully to my notice, and I will have it inquired into.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that commanding officers can only spend 20 per cent. more than the contract price for such articles as may be required?

I was not aware of that. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will bring that more fully to my notice?

War Office Memorandum!

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a list of the items that the men require would cost about three or four times the amount allowed?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the work of erecting a large Territorial hall in Kilmarnock has been stopped, and the workmen thrown out of employment; whether the War Office is responsible for this; and whether the work can be continued and the advice given to private employers, to keep in employment as many workmen as possible, acted upon?

The building referred to is apparently the headquarters of the 4th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, the erection of which was commenced without War Office authority and subsequently suspended following upon the issue of general instructions from the War Office, that building schemes not finally approved were not to be proceeded with for the present. The War Office were not aware that building had been begun in this case. In view of the circumstances now disclosed instructions will be given for the work to be proceeded with, subject to certain minor modifications of the scheme.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if it is a fact that in some Territorial Regiments officers on the Reserve have not been called up on embodiment and are still civilians, while their places have been filled by junior and inexperienced officers and supernumerary officers have been commissioned; and whether this is a mistake on the part of the commanding officers, and whether the War Office will at once issue a notice to all officers commanding Territorial units reminding them that on embodiment Reserve officers should be called up to join the unit?

Officers commanding Territorial units have authority to fill existing vacancies from officers of the Territorial Force Reserve. The names of those recalled were reported to the War Office, and they were gazetted to the active list. It is not possible to instruct commanding officers to call up the Reserve officers irrespectively of whether such officers are fit and efficient. Discretion on these points must be left to commanding officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, when the barracks and married quarters in this country which were till lately occupied by units of the Expeditionary Force are taken over and occupied by other units, arrangements will be made to ensure that no loss shall be incurred by the families thus removed from their quarters; and, in the event of lodging allowance being granted, will he see that such allowances be adequate, taking into account the cost of housing in the district concerned?

Special arrangements are being made to compensate these families for their removal, and allowances on an adequate scale will be granted.

If the woman and family of a man serving are turned out, cannot the Government be responsible, not merely for a money allowance but for adequate housing for the family?

I think the hon. Gentleman will find that full provision has been made for putting these women in as favourable a position as they were before.

May I give an instance?

Perhaps it would be better that I should let the hon. Member know what the arrangements are.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us now what the increase in the money allowance is?

There are several different allowances, and it would require a rather long answer to give them; but I shall be very glad to send a copy to the Noble Lord. It will be published as an Army Order in a day or two.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the orders for uniforms are being widely distributed in order to extend the area of employment as much as possible; and whether he is aware that London firms accustomed to make uniforms are complaining at receiving no orders?

Yes, Sir, that is so. The orders to be placed are by no means exhausted, but the orders already placed in London do not compare unfavourably with those placed in other parts of the country.

Is there any truth in the rumours that have been put about that there is likely to be a change in the colour of the uniform?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the use of the word English in describing the British Army in the reply of the Secretary of State for War to General Joffre; and whether, in view of the part played in our Army by other than English troops, he will undertake that in future no such partial description of our forces shall be permitted?

No, Sir, my attention had not previously been drawn to this matter; the published telegram was a translation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that General Joffre used the words "British" Army in his communication to the Secretary of State, and that the Secretary of State in his reply used the words "English" Army?

I was not aware of that, but I will bring the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman to the notice of the Secretary of State for War.

Arising further out of the answer, will my right hon. Friend make perfectly certain that the word "British" is used in future; will he remember that the British Force is made up of Englishmen, Scotsmen, Irishmen, Welshmen, and Colonials, and those of us who are not Englishmen object to the use of the word "English" in describing that Army?

I do not want to attach too much importance to this, but may I dare to suggest that the right hon. Gentleman should take into consideration the appropriateness, especially in view of the fact that British troops and those of the Overseas Dominions may shortly be fighting shoulder to shoulder, of the more general use of the word "Britannic"?

I will consider the suggestions, and bring them before the Secretary of State.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can see his way to paying dependants on the Army weekly instead of monthly; whether he is aware that monthly payments lead to in many cases unwise use of the money and great distress, and if he could arrange for weekly payments through the county councils and borough council organisations, to whom money could be remitted in bulk for distribution at council offices and by sub-division at schools, etc.?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the widespread dissatisfaction existing with respect to the manner in which the pay for soldiers' wives and families is being managed and distributed owing to pressure of work; and whether he will, in cases when assistance is applied for, authorise the appointment of an official to be paid by the Government to superintend and assist the work now being done by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association?

I am fully aware of the circumstances, and gladly acknowledge the great assistance rendered by voluntary workers to the War Office in dealing with an unprecedented situation. A system of direct weekly payment of these allowances will be put into operation at the beginning of October, and will, I hope, remove the difficulties to which the hon. Members refer.

That does not quite answer the question I asked about the system.

The system of direct weekly payment which I mentioned in my answer will cover that point, and so it will be unnecessary.

May I ask whether it would not be possible to do it in the same way as old age pensions by giving a form of cheque for the amount?

That is a very valuable suggestion, but I would rather the hon. Member waited until he saw the machinery.

asked the Prime Minister what steps the Government are taking with regard to life insurances on soldiers and sailors?

I have really nothing to add to what I stated on the 9th instant, except that a conference is being arranged between the Life Offices Association, the Treasury, Admiralty, and War Office to deal with the outstanding points.

When will that conference be held?

I hope in the course of the next few days.

May I have an answer about the sailors?

Yes. I received the following letter from the Chairman of the Life Offices Association on the 11th September:—

"Referring to your letter of the 4th instant, the questions raised therein have now received the attention of this Association, and I have the pleasure to inform you that it has been decided to recommend that the Royal Naval Reserve shall be placed upon the same footing as the Naval Volunteers, i.e., that no extra premium shall be required from persons in the Royal Naval Reserve who were insured prior to the declaration of war. The question of including the Royal Fleet Reserve in the same category has been carefully considered, but the Association does not see its way to recommend any departure from the original decision in regard to this Force. The Association is of opinion that the concessions made by the offices are all that can possibly be expected of them in justice to the main body of their policy holders.

P.S.—I must point out that the decision embodied in his letter applies only to the English offices belonging to this Association. The point is still under the consideration of the Associated Scottish Offices."

To this I replied on the same date:—

"I have to thank you for your letter of to-day. While regretting that you have not found it possible to include the Royal Fleet Reserve, I am very pleased to learn that you have extended the decision to require no extra premium from persons insured prior to the declaration of war to men of the Royal Naval Reserve.

I trust that the Associated Scottish Offices will see their way to follow the example of the English offices."

I should like to ask, in reference to the two answers given by the right hon. Gentlemen, whether they will now reply to the question I asked—namely, what course the Government propose to take, not what course the life assurance companies propose to take?

As no answer is forthcoming, I will repeat the question to-morrow.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that billeting is likely to lead to considerable over- crowding in various localities, and what steps the Government propose to take with regard to the housing of the troops during the coming autumn and winter?

A Special Committee has been formed to inquire into and regulate all matters connected with the billeting of troops in the United Kingdom. As regards the housing of the troops during the coming autumn and winter, a large number of hutments are already in course of construction, and all training centres will eventually be provided with huts.

May I ask the Prime Minister what business it is proposed to take to-day and during the rest of the week?

We propose to take to-day the Orders of the Day down to and including No. 6 (Army Pensions Bill).

With regard to the future, the Government hope that the Prorogation may take place this week. As I stated a fortnight ago, it is their intention that the two Bills—Government of Ireland and Established Church (Wales)—which have complied with the conditions of the Parliament Act, shall be placed upon the Statute Book.

I shall introduce to-morrow—and should have done so to-day, but, to my regret, we cannot proceed without notice, objection being taken—a Bill to provide that no steps shall be taken to put either of the two Acts into operation for twelve months in any event, and if the War is not then terminated until such further date, not later than the date of the termination of the War, as may be fixed by Order in Council. I cannot further anticipate the fuller statement which I shall make tomorrow, but I understand that to-morrow it will be for the general convenience that we should take a debate on this Bill.

I wish to know from the Government something about this Resolution and the Bill which is to be founded upon it. I gather from a Notice of Motion on the Paper it is proposed that the several stages of the Superannuation Bill may be taken immediately, notwithstanding the practice of the House relating to the interval between the various stages of such a Bill. Up to the present moment I have not been able to get a copy of the Bill, and therefore I have not the slightest idea what is in it. I think it is a little bit strong, not only to ask the House to agree to this Resolution, but also to pass through its various stages a Bill which nobody has seen. I hope that some explanation will be given at this stage of the Resolution and of the proposals to be made. As regards the Resolution, I would point out that the amount required has not been put down. I dare say there may be exceptional reasons for that, but I would remind the House of the excellent plan which has grown up of putting in some limit to the amount.

That was done after a representation on the subject which was made by me.

My hon. Friend says it was done as the result of a representation which he made. If he will excuse me for saying so, it was done on my representation. My real reason for rising now is to ask for some information about the Resolution, and also about the Bill which is to follow.

The subject matter of the Resolution is stated in its terms, but I did not wish to exhaust my right to speak until I knew what were the views of hon. Members in regard to the Resolution on which I shall introduce the Bill. If, after my explanation, the hon. Member (Mr. Rawlinson) would prefer to carefully investigate the provisions of the Bill before we take the several stages, then, of course, the Government would not persist in asking the House to proceed with all the stages this afternoon, but I do hope we will be allowed to get the First and Second Readings to-day, even if the hon. Member does not let us have all the stages. The Bill is not definitely of the class of Emergency Bills, that is to say, it was proposed to introduce a Bill something of this nature before the War broke out. It was then decided not to introduce the Bill this Session, because the Session was protracted. Certain parts of the Bill were re-examined after the War broke out, and it was thought that the House would consider it a non-controversial measure. That being so, it was considered that as its provisions would be advantageous in respect of certain persons, the House might be asked to consent to the measure. There are six operative Clauses. The first Clause enables a gratuity earned by a Civil servant to be paid to his representatives after death without waiting for probate, provided that the gratuity is not over £100. That can already be done with regard to pensions, but it cannot be done with regard to gratuities, and it does seem a hard case that a small gratuity payable to relatives in distress should not be paid without delay. Therefore, the first Clause enables the machinery for payments of gratuities to be analogous to that for the payment of pensions.

The second Clause deals with what the House will agree is a very hard case. A Civil servant who retires is entitled to a certain pension or gratuity. If the Civil servant dies in the service, his relatives are entitled to a certain different gratuity. There is one stage in the life of a Civil servant when the amount of the gratuity which his representatives will receive, if he dies in the service, is less than the amount which they will receive if he has resigned before his death. It is proposed to do away with that anomaly and hardship by making the gratuity no less at any time, whether he dies in the service or resigns previously. The fourth Clause does the same for the unestablished Civil servant as is done for the established Civil servant. Under the Superannuation Acts, as they at present exist, after fifteen years of service an unestablished Civil servant who retires gets a gratuity; if he dies in the Service he gets nothing. It has often been pointed out to the House that this is a very great hardship. It has been pointed out by the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Crooks) and the Noble Lord the Member for the Hitchin Division (Lord Robert Cecil), and Clause 3 will make the gratuity equal whether the servant dies in the service or dies out of it at the end of a particular term of service. Clause 4 deals with another hardship. If a man, having completed a term of service in the Civil Service which would entitle him to a gratuity or pension is lent to a foreign or Colonial Government, and never returns to the Civil Service again he is unable to get the gratuity or pension earned in the Civil Service of this country. I have in my mind a case where a man has been lent to the Egyptian Government. He has reached the age of sixty-two and he cannot get the pension earned in this country before he was lent to the Egyptian Government. Clause 5 deals with the only recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service on the general question of superannuation. It deals with the power which different Departments now have of making appointments, without the control of the Civil Service Commissioners, of what are called professional people who have special qualifications for particular posts. The Royal Commission reported that it had often been alleged that this led to jobs. A majority of the Royal Commission stigmatised the system as undesirable. That was the only general recommendation which was made, and we thought legislation on the subject might be included in this Bill. It does away with the power of heads of Departments to make such appointments without reference to the Civil Service Commissioners, and it also does away with the practice of professional people of this kind, appointed without the consent of the Civil Service Commissioners, having added to their pensions what are called added years. So long ago as 1888 the Ridley Commission reported that if you wish to engage professional people, you ought to give them the certain prospect of a sufficient salary rather than the ultimate and uncertain prospect of an enhanced pension.

The only other Clause is one which deals with pensions and gratuities of Civil Servants who, after they have received their pensions, become pauper lunatics. I need not bother the House with details of the way in which this anomaly works. Under the law, as it at present stands, a deduction is made of 4s. a week. It was to replace the Parliamentary Grants which were made towards the maintenance of pauper lunatics, but it has led to a great number of hardships as regards the dependants of those unfortunate people, and it does not mean any diminution in the contributions to the local authorities in respect of the maintenance of the lunatics. The hon. Member (Mr. Rawlinson) will see how difficult it is to make an exact estimate of the cost, or, at all events, a sufficiently accurate estimate to be put into the Resolution, but if he will allow me to furnish him with a verbal estimate of the cost of these Clauses, I would say that Clauses 1 and 5 mean no charge. Clause 2 which equalises the death gratuities for established servants will cost about £6,000. Clause 3, which equalises the death gratuities for unestablished servants, will cost about £4,000. Clause 4, which deals with servants who are lent to foreign and Colonial Governments, will cost, so far as I can gather, about £1,000 a year, and Clause 6 about £4,000, making a total of about £15,000.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if he will take the opportunity presented by this Bill to do away with the great injustice of the commutation of pensions having to be calculated on a 5 per cent. basis instead of a 3½ per cent. basis? Will there be a legislative remedy provided for that in the present Bill?

I have listened with a great deal of interest to the statement of the hon. Gentleman. We are now debating the Financial Resolution, and we are shortly to be asked to suspend the customary Rules which guard the procedure of this House, and to pass the whole of the stages of the Bill founded upon this Resolution. I want to know why we should violate the whole of the principles which are usually followed by the House in order to pass this Bill in the way proposed. I believe I am correct in saying that there has been no action of this sort since 1872, when a Bill was passed in the same way owing to a great national emergency.

The hon. Member cannot go into the provisions of the Bill in a discussion on the Resolution. His comments on the Bill will be in order later on.

I am quite aware that the hon. Gentleman was out of order during the whole of his speech, because he dealt with the Bill, and you have often ruled that on a Resolution we must not discuss the Bill, but that such discussion must be deferred until the Bill is before us; but as you allowed the hon. Gentleman to go on, and as we are now proceeding in a most extraordinary fashion generally, I presume that, as you have allowed him to make a speech which was out of order, perhaps it would be more convenient if we discussed the Bill at this moment, and I venture most humbly to suggest that as the hon. Gentleman was allowed to make his speech, naturally, according to the custom of the House, I can reply to that speech which was out of order.

I must remind the hon. Baronet that the Bill is founded on the Resolution, and if the Resolution were not passed, the Bill could not be proceeded with, and I would venture to suggest to the hon. Baronet that he should confine himself to the Resolution.

If you think it better for me to make my remarks to the hon. Member on the next Motion, I shall be quite willing to do so.