§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)It will be for the convenience of the House if the First Lord of the Treasury can state what course he proposes to take with regard to Public Business?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)I have endeavoured to ascertain, as far as I can, what the feeling of hon. Members was with regard to the arrangements to be made for Public Business; and I have satisfied myself that, while there is a great desire to forward Business as much as possible, there is not unnaturally a reluctance to make the conditions too onerous and too severe upon hon. Members and upon the officers of the House. The proposal, 856 therefore, which I wish to make is that on Mondays and Thursdays we should suspend the 12 o'clock Rule; and on Tuesdays—at all events at present—relying upon the co-operation of hon. Members in forwarding Business, we should not do so, having regard to the fact that the House will sit at 12 o'clock on Wednesdays, and also at 12 o'clock on Saturdays. I think it may possibly be for the convenience of the House that the half-past 5 o'clock Rule should be suspended on Wednesdays, with a view to conclude any Business which may then be before the Committee by half-past 6 or 7 o'clock if possible; but I make no distinct proposal of that character at the present moment. I only desire to ask the co-operation of the House, as far as it may be possible to obtain it, for the forwarding of Public Business in a manner which will be conducive to the interests of the House. Therefore, I do not propose at the present moment to move the Resolution which I put on the Paper for last week; but to content myself with moving the suspension of the 12 o'clock Rule for this night.
§ MR. MARJORIBANKS (Berwickshire)asked, if the right hon. Gentleman could name a definite day—say that day week—for taking the Scottish Estimates?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, he should be exceedingly glad to name a day if it was in his power; but the right hon. Gentleman would see the difficulties in which the Government were placed. They must make further progress before he could make a definite statement as to the particular day when the Scottish Votes would be taken.
§ MR. BROADHURST (Nottingham, W.)asked, how about the Employers' Liability for Injuries to Workmen Bill?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, he regarded it as incumbent on the Government to ask the House to make a serious effort to pass the Bill. It would be most inexpedient that there should be any delay beyond next Friday in getting it through the House of Commons, as the Government desired that the measure should be fairly and fully considered in the House of Lords. Under these circumstances, it was necessary to adhere to the arrangement that the Bill should be taken on Friday next.
§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he intended to move every Monday and Thursday that the House sit after 12 o'clook, on which Motion there could be no debate, or whether a general Motion to that effect would be made; because he could assure the right hon. Gentleman there was not that universal assent to his proposal on the Opposition side of the House which he supposed; and unless an opportunity should be given for some sort of debate on the Motion they would have to take other means of obtaining one.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSir, I am not desirous of contributing to the delay of Public Business. Unless I am forced to do so, I should not, after the statement I made, think it right to initiate myself a debate on the proposal which I have mentioned to the House. I think the course I have indicated is one which, on the whole, meets with the support and acceptance of the House. ["No!"] It is necessary that the Bill should be carefully considered in "another place," and returned to this House before the end of this Session. Under these circumstances, it is necessary to adhere to the arrangement that the Employers' Liability for Injuries to Workmen Bill should be taken on Friday next.
§ MR. A. E. PEASE (York)asked if the right hon. Gentleman would name a day when Class V. of the Civil Service Estimates would be taken.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, it was impossible to do so. If the hon. Member could indicate any method by which he could do so, he should be exceedingly obliged.