A great deal of undeserved abuse is directed against the
procedure of the House of Commons. On the whole, the Standing Orders are devised for the protection of the private Member, and any sweeping change would probably be for the worse. Nevertheless, there are a few tiresome features which might conveniently be eliminated. One of these is the rule that the Budget Resolutions cannot be taken as read, but must be recited in full by the Chairman of Ways and Means. This process occupies about three-quarters of an hour and has no informative value whatsoever. All that happens is that there is an awkward and unnecessary hiatus in the debate. In order not to sacrifice continuity the arrangement was made last year that the first Resolution only should be read when the Chancellor sat down, so as to enable rhe Opposition leaders to speak without undue delay. After their speeches were concluded the other Resolutions were read through, and the debate was thrown open to the rest of the House. On Tuesday the repetition of this arrangement drew a fierce protest from Mr. Tinker. He pointed out, with considerable logic and force, that the effect was to draw a distinction between the two Opposition leaders and other Members of Parliament. His indignation was unavailing, since it come a little too late. Nevertheless, there was some truth in his statement that there is a tendency nowadays to differentiate between front benchers and others.
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