HC Deb 10 July 1879 vol 248 cc27-9
SIR JOSEPH M'KENNA

asked, If the Banking and Joint Stock Companies Bill would be taken to-night?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

No.

MR. BENTINCK

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he would have the goodness to state what Business would be taken next week?

MR. DILLWYN

I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer a Question of which have given him private Notice. A paragraph has appeared in two of the morning papers to the effect that arrangements have been made to carry on a continuous Sitting of the House until the Army Discipline and Regulation Bill has been passed through Committee—a continuous Sitting; and wish to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made, or is cognizant of, any such arrangement?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

have not seen the paragraph to which the hon. Gentleman refers, and am not cognizant of any such arrangement. What we hope is this—In one sense, we must have a continuous series of Sittings on the Army Discipline and Regulation Bill, because it is now so near the time at which the temporary Act expires that we must postpone all other Business in order to proceed with the Bill. That makes it difficult to answer the Question with great positive-ness, because if we are not finished by Monday we shall be obliged to go on with it. I hope the House, in consideration of the state of Business and the period of the Session, will assist us to make serious progress with this Bill this evening, and, in that case, I hope we may be able to complete the Committee to-morrow at the Morning Sitting. We do not propose to ask for a Sitting on Saturday. If, on Monday, we shall have completed the Committee on the Bill, we shall propose to take the Estimates—the Civil Service Estimates—and probably some of the Irish Estimates on that day. Last year, on the 15th of July, we made the request, customary at the end of the Session, that Government Business should take precedence on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and I propose on Monday, at the meeting of the House, to make a similar proposal. It will be the same day of the year as the proposal was made last year; and, certainly, the Business this year is not at all further advanced than it was last year. I trust the House will be willing to entertain that proposal. I do not ask the House to express any opinion on it at the present time. I only give Notice that will I make the Motion on Monday.

MR. BENTINCK

asked, What other Estimates than these already mentioned would be taken next week?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

I am afraid I am hardly in a position to say what other Estimates will be taken. If, however, my hon. Friend refers to the Navy Estimates, I may tell him that we do not propose to take them next week.

MR. GOSCHEN

said, progress had been made with the Civil Service and the Army Estimates but only one night had been devoted to the Navy Estimates, which he never remembered to have been dealt with as they had been this year. Why was it impossible to proceed with them?

MR. W. H. SMITH

exceedingly regretted that it had fallen to his lot to be later than usual with the Navy Estimates but it was not his fault that they had not been proceeded with. The ground for proceeding with the Civil Service Estimates next week was that there was an actual want of money on account of the Votes to be proposed. Therefore, there was no alternative but to go on with them. As soon as he could get the opportunity, he should only be too glad to bring on the Navy Estimates.

SIR ROBERT PEEL

I wish to ask the Government, Whether it is to be distinctly understood that the report which has appeared in all the newspapers as to a continuous Sitting to-night is not correct? Of course, that statement has not been made officially, and I presume that the House will not sit beyond 12 or 1 o'clock?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

I stated that I was not cognizant of any such arrangement as that referred to. As to the particular hour to which we should sit to-night, that is a matter for the convenience and the discretion of the House itself. I hope we shall be able to make good progress with the Bill.

MR. HIBBERT

asked, Whether the Valuation Bill would be taken at the Morning Sitting next Tuesday?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

I would rather not say.

MR. CALLAN

would address the Question of the right hon. Baronet (Sir Robert Peel) to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Puleston), since he was understood to have identified himself with such arrangements, and would ask, Whether it had been arranged that the House was to be kept by relays of Members throughout the night?

[No answer was given to the Question.]