HC Deb 05 March 1880 vol 251 cc440-1
SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

inquired, Whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer had changed his arrangements for Passion Week?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

Sir, When the noble Lord (the Marquess of Hartington) put his Question to me at the beginning of yesterday's Sitting I had received no Notice of his intention to do so, and I gave a doubtful answer as to the precise day on which I hoped the House might rise—namely, Thursday, the 25th instant. In the course of the evening several Gentlemen, including the hon. Member for Chelsea, represented to me that it would be more convenient for hon. Members that we should rise on Tuesday, the 23rd, which it was suggested might be done, as has been done in previous years, by the Government taking a Morning Sitting on that Tuesday for such Business as remains or which must be got through before the Easter Holidays. As I stated last night, I shall be very glad to be able to adopt that plan if it should be found possible; but, of course, it must depend somewhat on the progress of Business.