31 JULY 1936, Page 3

In the last few weeks the length of Members' speeches

has been even more protracted than usual. Miss Rathbone pointed out to the Prime Minister early in the week that in the debate on the Unemployment Regulations 80 Members exceeded 30 minutes, 18 exceeded 45 minutes. The Speaker is able to limit speeches to some extent by applying sanctions to back - bench Members and refusing to call on them in an important debate if they have been long-winded on a previous occasion. But he cannot apply this discipline to Privy Councillors, and they are often the worst offenders.