asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will grant time for discussion by the House of the Resolution standing in the name of the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley dealing with the allocation of time for debate.—[To call attention to the manner in which the time available for debate in this House is allocated between Members; and to move, That this House requests the Speaker, Chairman, and Deputy-Chairman to put an end to the practice by which lists of Members who are to be called are prepared beforehand and revert to the practice whereby Members were formerly called upon to speak on catching the Speaker's eye; this House further requests the Government, in co-operation with the leaders of allsections of the House, to appoint a Select Committee of Fifteen Members to investigate and report as to what steps may be taken to shorten the length of speeches and any other proposals which will enable the work of the House of Commons to be better distributed and shared in by all Members]

In the present congested state of Parliamentary business, I regret that I can hold out no hope of being able to afford a day for this discussion.

As I understand the Government do not see their way to give time for the discussion of the Motion, may I ask if you, Mr. Speaker, will very kindly use your influence with the Prime Minister to provide an opportunity for such discussion, as a large number of hon. Members feel very keenly on the subject?

I do not think it would be for me to influence the Prime Minister.