THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether after the statement to which he has referred, and which I presume he is about to make in Committee of Supply, seeing that it will probably be one of very great importance, he will be willing to agree to report Progress, after, of course, such explanations as may have been asked for have been given, more fully to explain the proposals of the Government. I wish to ask whether he will be willing to report Progress in order that the House may have some time to consider the character of that statement and the proposals of the Government?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, the statement which I shall have to make to the House as soon as the House is in Committee of Supply will be one no doubt of great importance, and one that will be seen to contain some new matter. I think it will be advantageous and convenient to the House that the course suggested by the noble Lord should be followed, on this understanding—thatweshouldbeallowed at once to go into Committee of Supply, and that I should make my statement before any discussion is raised, such, for 535 instance, as that suggested by the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Rylands) on the Speaker leaving the Chair. On that understanding we should be willing, after my statement and any explanations that may be necessary to elucidate our proposals to the House, to report Progress till to-morrow, in order to enable the House to consider what course it should take on those proposals. Under those circumstances, I think we should lose no time, because we cannot expect such a debate to close in one night; and I hope that hon. Gentlemen who have Notices on the Paper for to-morrow will consent to waive them to allow us to proceed with the debate.
§ MR. RYLANDSsaid, he had no hesitation at all in acceding to the suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman.
§ MR. E. S. HOWARDalso promised to postpone his Motion standing in his name for to-morrow.