7 DECEMBER 1951, Page 44

"The Times" House of Commons, 1951. (Times Office. los. 6d.)

THE new issue of this valuable guide to the House follows the same lines as its pre- decessors; there is indeed no very obvious way to improve on them. There are the usual short biographies, giving (in classic phrase) "all the news that's fit to print" about the 625 M.P.s, together in each case with a photograph, which may or may not increase esteem for the original. That occupies the bulk of the volume, but much else is included —the voting in each constituency, the various party manifestos, and a summary of results of all General Elections in this century. How closely the present House resembles the last is shown by figures indicating that out of the 622 Members of which the House con- sisted at the dissolution no fewer than 567 were re-elected ; 29 did not try to be ; 25 were defeated. This is an almost indis- pensable reference-book for politicians.