Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSON:

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the fact that if the Government had not promised to take up the Summer Time Bill and provided the necessary facilities for its passing into law this Session, it would, as the first Private Members' Bill to pass through Committee stage, have been put down for Third Reading on the first Private Members' Friday after Whitsuntide, he will undertake to see that facilities are given for the Third Beading, so that the wishes of the majority of Members may prevail?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the disappointment throughout the country at the delay in passing the Summer Time Bill; and if he will accede to the expressed wishes of the majority of the nation by expediting the passage of the Measure?

I hope it will be possible to allot Friday, the 17th instant, for the consideration of the Summer Time Bill.

Mr. THOMSON:

If the time is not sufficient to dispose of the Bill, seeing that it would have had a Friday under ordinary circumstances, will the Government do anything more to secure its passing by granting extra facilities?

It has been difficult enough to find a whole Friday, and I think Friday ought to suffice.

Is it proposed to suspend the Four o'clock Rule for this much-needed Bill?

I think that would be very inconvenient, but I will consider it.

Mr. BOOTH BY:

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think, in view of the very controversial nature of the Bill and of the fact that the whole agricultural community is opposed to it, the Government ought to accept the responsibility of defining the exact length of summer time by means of a Government Amendment?