§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERBefore proceeding to the Orders of the Day, I would ask permission of the House to call their attention to the present state of Business with reference to the Civil Service Supplementary Estimates and the Excess Votes, which stand as the First Order of the Day. The House is aware that it is necessary that these Votes should be passed, and that the authority to pay the money out of the Exchequer in respect of them should be given before the 31st March, the close of the financial year. The process which is necessary is, that, after voting in Committee of Supply the Supplies that are asked for, the Report should be taken as the next stage. Then a Resolution will have to be proposed in Committee of Ways and Means, and that also has to be reported. Then a Bill has to be brought in, and passed through all its stages in both Houses; and it is necessary that that process should be gone through at least a day before the 31st of March, in order that the further steps may be taken which are necessary for getting the money out of the Exchequer. If any failure were to take place in that respect, we should be put to the alternative either of not supplying the money for certain services for which it is necessary, or we should be in the position of being almost compelled to violate the Appropriation Act, which, of course, is not to be contemplated. Therefore, it is really absolutely necessary for the regularity of our proceedings, that we should get these Votes through in proper time. I have had the days very closely calculated, and I find that unless we are able to pass these Estimates to-night we shall not be in time. There are, I know, a large number of Notices down on 1320 going into Committee of Supply, and several of them refer to matters of great interest, and upon which, no doubt, considerable debate might arise, and the House is always naturally, and I may say properly, unwilling to take up the voting of Supplies very late in the evening. I am therefore now about to make an appeal to hon. Members who have Notices on the Paper to allow us on this occasion to go into Committee of Supply without discussing those Notices. But I feel that it would be unreasonable in me to make that request to hon. Members, if I were not able to put them in as good a position as if they had not made that sacrifice, and I believe that it is in my power to do so by a proposal which I shall now make. It is this—if hon. Gentlemen will consent to waive their Notices to-night, and to allow you, Sir, to leave the Chair, and let us go into Committee, and if—which I cannot doubt—we get through the Supplementary Estimates and the Excess Votes to-night, I should then propose on Monday to place Supply, not as the First Order of the Day, but as the Second. The First Order will be the formal stage of Committee of Ways and Means, which will only occupy a few minutes; and thus Supply would practically become the First Order. Standing as the Second, however, it would not come within the Rule which was passed the other day; and, therefore, all the Notices which are on the Paper for to-night, might be brought forward in their order on Monday. I make this proposal for the advancement of the Public Business, and I think hon. Gentlemen will see that it is one which is fair, and that it does not impose any disadvantage upon those to whom I make an appeal.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsaid, that having the first Notice on the Paper, he would at once accede to the right hon. Gentleman's request.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLsaid, he had a Notice on the Paper upon a very important question, which he was most anxious to bring before the House. His position was a somewhat peculiar one, as he had intended to bring it on the previous Friday, but had not been able to do so in consequence of the action of the Government. However, he would return good for evil, and submit to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's necessity, though he hoped that an opportunity 1321 would be given him for bringing the question forward.
§ MR. DILLWYNalso consented to withdraw his Notice.