§ In reply to Mr. RYLANDS,
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid: If we are able to proceed with the Navy Estimates to-night, we may reckon upon their occupying the whole evening, and there will be no attempt to bring on the Supplementary Estimates. In that case, we propose to take the Supplementary Estimates on Monday. I wish to take this opportunity of repeating the appeal I made last night to hon. Members having Notices on the Paper to-night on going into Committee of Supply. It is really very important that the First Lord of the Admiralty should be allowed this evening to go into Committee, make his statement, and, at all events, obtain the Vote for the numbers of men. I observe that the first Notice which is on the Paper is a very important one, given by my hon. Friend the Member for Wigtonshire, with regard to the continuance or other- 1402 wise of the Board of Education in Scotland, to which two other Members have given Notice of Amendments. Now, that is a most important subject, and one which cannot be treated very briefly. If it is entered upon to-night there can be no doubt that the debate must be of some length, and I should be most unwilling that it should be unnecessarily or unduly curtailed. At the same time, if my hon. Friend would take into consideration the position of Public Business and be willing to abstain from making his Motion on this occasion, he would be doing a real service; and I will undertake on the part of the Government to do my very best to obtain, within reasonable time, a position which should enable him to bring forward the subject and have full attention given to it. The subject is one which engages the attention of the Government and on which we have proposals to make; but I entirely recognize my hon. Friend's right to bring the matter forward. It is only in consequence of the extreme importance of going on with the Business on the Paper that I venture to make this appeal to him. Of course, I do so only conditionally on the understanding that other hon. Gentlemen who have Notices on the Paper after him will also give way. There are 10 or 12 others in going into Supply; but I do not think any other Gentleman would desire to proceed in case my hon. Friend gives way in regard to the Scotch question. I only make that request to him conditional on that understanding. ["Hear, hear!"] MR. MARK STEWART: Sir, the strong appeal which my right hon. Friend has just made to me is reciprocated on both sides of the House, judging by the cheers that greeted it. I stand in a difficult position, because the interest that is taken in the Northern part of this country is very great in regard to the Scotch Education Board. A very strong Memorial has just been presented to the Premier on this subject— perhaps the strongest ever presented from Scotland on any subject. But, with this discussion coming on now, when the whole country is in a most excited condition, and when we are possibly on the brink of war—it is important that the Committee should not be limited by time. I am, therefore, quite ready to do as my right hon. Friend has suggested, provided no other hon. Member who has a 1403 Motion on the Paper will go on with it, and provided that the Government will give me a first place between this and Whitsuntide in order to bring forward this Question.