MR. PHILIPPS (Lanark, Mid)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the great inconvenience caused to Scotch Members by the delay in taking some of the Scotch Estimates, the Government will endeavour to arrange that the Classes taken last this Session shall be taken 1662 first next Session, so as to allow an opportunity for adequate discussion upon them?
§ * THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH, Strand, Westminster)I exceedingly regret that any hon. Member should be subjected to inconvenience by the delay in the consideration of any part of the business. The hon. Member will see by a Return issued this morning that already 42 sittings have been given to Supply. When protracted discussion takes place, sometimes, I am afraid, out of proportion to the necessities of the subject, it is obviously impossible for the Government to make the arrangements which they would desire for the convenience of hon. Members. Under these circumstances I am afraid I am not able to come to any engagement for next Session.
§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)Will the Scotch Estimates be taken immediately after the Irish Estimates are disposed of?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI am afraid that I cannot enter into any engagement. There are only four or five Scotch Votes remaining to be taken, and they will be taken in their order.