§ MR. BERNAL OSBORNEsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for War, When he will bring on the Vote or 441 Loan for Fortifications? It was of great importance that it should be discussed in a full House; and if it was not brought on soon, he should raise the question in another form, which he thought might be inconvenient.
SIR GEORGE LEWISMy hon. Friend asks mo as to the time when this subject will be brought on, A short time since he was very anxious to prevent an undue precipitation on the part of the Government—[Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE: We had not the evidence then.]—and requested I would give an undertaking that the question should not be proposed before the Report of the Committee was in the hands of Members, and without full time to consider the evidence. The Report is printed; but I believe that the evidence is not yet circulated among Members. I had a copy brought to me to-day, and I believe there are two copies in the library. If I had named a day before Whitsuntide, I should have been told that the evidence was not yet in the hands of Members, and that the discussion was altogether premature. Well, then, I think I have shown that I have lost no time in not bringing on the question before the holydays. What I propose is, that on Thursday after the holydays I shall endeavour to fix a day. At the same time, it will, of course, depend on other business, which may be more urgent, whether I shall be able, with the consent of my noble Friend at the head of the Government, immediately after the holydays to name a day.
§ Motion agreed to.