HC Deb 17 February 1881 vol 258 cc1092-3
MR. GLADSTONE

Sir, I wish to give Notice, that unless the Committee on the Protection of Person and Property (Ireland) Bill be brought to a close this evening, I will, at half-past 4 to-morrow, move in the following terms:— That the Chairman of the Committee on the Protection of Person and Property (Ireland) Bill do report the Bill this day at or before 12 o'clock.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

Mr. Speaker, I wish to put a Question to you for the convenience of the House with regard to the operation of one of the Rules which you have just announced, and in respect of which a Notice has just been given. As I understand these Rules, if the discussion on the clauses of the Bill should not be concluded by 12 o'clock—in the event of the House having voted according to the proposition now submitted to it—I apprehend the Chairman will be required to report the Bill to the House as it then stands, not only without allowing any discussion on further Amendments, but even without putting them to the vote. I wish to know whether, if that is so, there will be any other opportunity in the progress of the Bill when Amendments of which Notice has been given, but which have not been reached at the time the Committee stage is concluded, can be submitted to the House?

MR. SPEAKER

Amendments may be submitted to the House on the Consideration of the Bill.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

I put the Question on the assumption that there is no Report.

MR. SPEAKER

In that case, the object may be attained by a Motion to re-commit the Bill.

MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

Am I right, Sir, in assuming that on a Motion to commit the Bill or re-commit the Bill the several Amendments which have been shut out from discussion in Committee may then be discussed, because the Chief Secretary for Ireland has already intimated that he will put several Amendments into the Bill? Now, if the discussion closes at 12 o'clock, without the introduction of those Amendments, the right hon. Gentleman will be absolved from the insertion of those Amendments in the Committee stage. I should like to know what course the Government propose to take in reference to the promise of the right hon. Gentleman that in Committee certain Amendments should be introduced.

MR. W. E. FORSTER

The hon. and learned Member is under a misapprehension. I did not state that these Amendments would be moved in Committee, but I stated something precisely different, which was that the Amendments should be moved on the stage of the Report, and that if there was not a Report I would move the recommittal of the Bill on the Third Reading.

Mr. A. MOORE

I wish to know, Sir, whether, when the Prime Minister moves his Motion to-morrow, it will be competent to raise a debate on that Motion?

MR. SPEAKER

No, it will not be competent.

MR. J. COWEN

I beg to give Notice that, on the first occasion when the Forms of the House allow me, I shall move that whenever the Government declare a Bill to be urgent that Bill shall be put to the House without any discussion whatever.

MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

I beg to give Notice that, in the event of the Motion, of which Notice has been given by the hon. Member for Newcastle (Mr. J. Cowen) being negatived, I shall move immediately afterwards, if the Forms of the House permit me to do so, that the Prime Minister have power to move that no Irish Member be heard on any Irish question.