Cutting from the Dundee Advertiser: speech by John Cathcart Wason advocating local parliaments for Ireland, Scotland, Wales, London and, possibly, English regions.

Copy of a letter from [WSC] ([Home Office]) to James Seddon [President of the Shop Assistants' Union] assuring him that the Shops Bill has not been abandoned, but postponed due to the "extraordinary political crisis" [constitutional deadlock between the Liberal Government and the House of Lords]. Unsigned typescript.

Letter from WSC (House of Commons) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: the announcement of the Prime Minister [Herbert Asquith] regarding the Government's intentions on the reform of the relations between the two Houses of Parliament and the [1909] Budget; and [John] Redmond's "menacing" speech on the position of the Irish [National] Party.

Letter from WSC (House of Commons) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: the speeches of [George] Barnes, F E Smith [later Lord Birkenhead], [William] O'Brien, [William] Moore, WSC and Walter Ling on proposals for Parliamentary reform.

Letter from WSC (House of Commons) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: a debate over Free Trade and Protection between [Alfred] Mond and Samuel Storey [later Lord Buckton]; the maiden speech of [Eliot] Crawshay Williams; [Arthur] Balfour's speech in favour of Protection and WSC's comments on the issue. WSC also discusses the small Government majority and the task of carrying through "tremendous constitutional changes".

Letter from WSC (Home Office) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: discussion of an amendment relating to the hops industry; the weak position of the government due to the disillusionment of their supporters regarding legislation on the constitution and veto of the House of Lords; the necessity of a statement on the subject by the Prime Minister [Herbert Asquith] so that financial business, including discussion of the naval estimates, may be continued.

Letter from WSC (Home Office) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: the smooth progression of financial business; discussion of Government borrowing; WSC's opinion that the Government has not surrendered to the Irish [Nationalists] and his comments on the strength of the constitution.

Letter from WSC (House of Commons) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: discussion of Government borrowing and the passage of the [1909] Budget; and the influence of the House of Lords over the passage of financial bills.

Letter from WSC (Home Office) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: discussion of the passage of the [1909] Budget; the suggestion by the Opposition that the Budget should be divided into a series of separate resolutions and the Government's objection to this idea. WSC expresses his hopes that the "catastrophe" which would result from the loss of the Budget can be avoided.

Letter from WSC (Home Office) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: a question by Lord Hugh Cecil [later Lord Quickswood] on the Government's intentions regarding the passage of the [1909] Budget; the effect of the Government's answer on the Irish Nationalists; WSC's observations on the unstable political situation and the lack of interest shown in discussion of the naval estimates.

Letter from WSC (Home Office) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: praise for a speech made by the Prime Minister [Herbert Asquith]; comments on the inadequacies of a reply by [Arthur] Balfour; the imminent climax of discussions over the [1909] Budget and the veto of the House of Lords; and WSC's opinion that the King's intervention will be required to overcome the constitutional deadlock.

Letter from WSC (Home Office) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: the carrying of the resolution to abolish the financial veto of the House of Lords; [Richard] Haldane's speech on the constitutional reform of the House of Lords; a "really delicious" speech by [Arthur] Balfour concerning his previous statements about the power of the House of Lords regarding financial measures; and the division on Tariff Reform.

Letter from WSC (Home Office) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: the debate over the amendment to the resolutions on the veto of the House of Lords excluding measures affecting Royal powers; the introduction by the Conservative Party of an amendment to exclude Home Rule from the powers proposed for the House of Commons and the excited mood of the House during speeches by the Prime Minister [Herbert Asquith] and [Arthur] Balfour.

Letter from WSC (Home Office) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: the strengthened position of the Government due to the passage of the Budget through the House of Commons; the impressive position of the British economy; and the debate between the Chancellor of the Exchequer [David Lloyd George] and [William] O'Brien.

Letter from WSC (Home Office) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including a debate on the amendments to the resolutions on the veto of the House of Lords which have been resisted by WSC, although he concedes that the criticisms of the Conservative Party will have to be met.

Letter from WSC (Home Office) to King Edward VII describing events in the House of Commons including: the second passing of the [1909] Budget through the House of Commons; the speech of [Joseph] Devlin; and WSC's observations on what might have happened if the Budget had not been rejected by the House of Lords.

Report of a joint committee of peers and MPs on reform of the House of Lords.

Letter from Sir John Ross (Dunmoyle, Sixmilecross, County Tyrone, [Ulster, Ireland]) to WSC asking him to read his scheme for reform of the House of Lords and stressing the need for anti-Socialist elements to work together if the "abyss" is to be avoided.

Letter from Ernest Law (27 Brunswick Gardens, Kensington, [London]) to WSC enclosing CHAR 2/137/21, drawing WSC's attention to his suggestion that the House of Commons should consider the right of a Prime Minister to advise a dissolution of Parliament and regretting that WSC argued in his letter that the House of Commons could debate any amendment to the Address "irrespective of whether a new Government has or has not at that moment assumed office.".

Cutting from the "Times": letter from Ernest Law to the editor arguing that the Prime Minister should not have the right to advise a dissolution of Parliament in any circumstances or to advise the sovereign who his successor should be. Sent with CHAR 2/137/20.