§ MR. CHILDERSasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he was in a position to give the House further information as to the course of Public Business next week?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,in reply, said, that at this time of the year it was always very difficult to give any precise and final information as to the arrangements for Business; so much depended on the progress made on particular days. He had, however, already informed the House that he would proceed with the Irish Estimates on Monday, and, as regarded the other Business of the Government, something would depend on the rate of progress they were able to make with the Estimates. There was one point, which was 1299 probably in the mind of his right hon. Friend, and which he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had also to bear in mind. Some time ago, he stated that he should be prepared to lay on the Table the Estimates for the South African War, and the Vote of Credit, probably before the end of this month, and Thursday would be the end of the month. Now, the news they had received recently from the Cape enabled them to prepare that Estimate with greater confidence than would have been the case a few weeks ago; and he, therefore, hoped to be in a position to redeem his pledge, and to bring that matter before the House in a form which, he might present with some confidence. There were also one or two other matters, more or less in connection with the financial arrangements of the year, which would have to be borne in mind. They had, as the House was aware, to make provision for the payment of certain Exchequer Bonds which fell due in August and September. It would be necessary to take a Vote in Supply, in order to provide the means for paying off those Bonds; and if the House agreed to the Bill now about to be proposed for a loan to India, some provision would have to be made in order to raise the money that would be required for the purpose. He should, probably, on Tuesday, in Committee of Supply, propose a Vote for that purpose, and then on Thursday, in Committee of Ways and Means, as the First Order of the Day, he should propose the steps necessary to provide for the bills which had to be paid off, and also the Estimate that would be necessary for a Vote of Credit. The Government were further anxious to go on with the Navy Estimates on Thursday, if the preliminary statement he had to make would allow sufficient time. If not, of course, it would be necessary to put it off until a later day. So much, however, depended on the progress made with other Business which should have precedence, that he was not able to give more precise information as to what would be taken on particular days.