§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACH (Bristol, W.)I am anxious to ask the First Lord of the Treasury a Question affecting the Business this evening. I understand that it is necessary, in point of law, that the Votes for the men and money in the Army Estimates should be taken to-night. The House will perceive that there are several Notices of Motion of interest and importance on going into Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates, and they will probably occupy a considerable time. It may very well be, therefore, that the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for War will not be able to make his statement until a late hour in the evening, so that no opportunity for debate on that statement will be afforded to the House to-night. I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, if the Votes be taken to-night, there will be an opportunity given to us on Thursday next of debating the question?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)Yes, Sir; unquestionably, if the course of the debate to-night should render it difficult properly to discuss the statement of my right hon. Friend, we will give the earliest opportunity in our power for the purpose of that discussion, and that, I believe, will be arranged on Thursday next. We are very anxious to get forward with the Crofters' Bill, and that Bill should not give way to anything excepting the Army Estimates in the event anticipated by the right hon. Gentleman.