5 DECEMBER 1952, Page 22

The Guillotine

Sta,—In your issue of November 28th you describe the use of the " Guillotine " before the committee stage of the Bill is even begun as "a new way of bringing this dangerous instrument into play."

The procedure the Government are following is certainly not new. Mr. Crookshank in last week's debate pointed out that in the last twenty-five years there had been nine occasions on which a time-table has been introduced before the start of the committee stage of the Bill. Three of these precedents, incidentally, were set by a Labour

Government.—Yours faithfully, GEORGE E. CHRIST. High Glee, 51 Beulah Hill, S.E.19.