150 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

Division Lobbies. When a debate has ended the Speaker puts the
<Juestion, asking those in favour to say "Aye" and those against
"No"; he then announces "I think the Ayes (or Noes) have it",
usually assuming the Government to be victorious. Frequently the
Opposition, knowing themselves to be in a minority, let his
decision stand; but if they wish they can shout "Divide",
whereupon bells ring all over the building to summon Members
to the Chamber; they then file into the Aye and No lobbies.,
and are counted. The lists of those voting is published and helps
the electors to judge how often their Member is at his post.
The Whips elected by each party have the task of seeing that
Members will be in the House when important divisions are
expected; a Whip must therefore be well acquainted with the
time-table and procedure. A Member who has an important
engagement elsewhere may arrafige with the Whips to find a
Member of the opposite Party similarly placed, and "pair"
with him—i.e., make an agreement that neither shall vote at
that division.

FROM BILLS TO ACTS.

There are several kinds of Bill, the commonest being a Public
Bill, i.e., one affecting* the whole community. For such a Bill
to become law it must go through the following stages:—•Drafting.
The Department of the Minister concerned consults with the
Parliamentary Counsel's Office, which is the part of the Civil
Service charged with putting the Government's policy into the
proper legal form. This is difficult and technical work, and it
appears that the office staff cannot at present deal with more
than four Bills at once. As some Bills take months to prepare
this is a serious drag on business. First Reading. Notice having
been given to the House that the Bill is to be introduced, the~
Minister hands a copy of it to the Clerk of the House who reads
the "Long Title" which states the nature and purpose of the
Bill. The House agrees that the Bill may be brought in and a
day is fixed for Second Reading. Little time has been spent and"