§ MR. RAIKESasked whether Supply would be taken as the first Order of the Day at 2 o'clock? He wished to know in consequence of an answer he received from the Chancellor of the Exchequer earlier in the Sitting.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, he hoped that an opportunity would be given his right hon. Friend (Mr. Raikes) to raise his question, because, without imputing anything like sharp practice to the Government, he had no doubt the course taken was an unusual one. An addition to the Income Tax was carried by Resolution after 10 minutes to 7 on Tuesday, or, at all events, without Notice to the House that such a Resolution was to be proposed. He was aware that it was said that the Resolution would be dealt with in Ways and Means; but it was the practice when a tax was imposed to give duo Notice of it, and the first step in setting up Supply was such that the House was aware what was to be proposed. In this case the House was not aware that it was intended to take this Resolution, and very few Members were aware that it had been passed. Under these circumstances, some opportunity ought to be afforded to his right hon. Friend to discuss the question he desired to introduce. It was one of considerable importance, and he believed his right hon. Friend was right in stating that no similar case had occurred for the last 40 years, and that under no circumstances whatever had an addition been made to the Income Tax to meet a charge which had been imposed by the House, without any opportunity being afforded for discussion.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked when the Resolution which stood in the name of the Secretary of State for India would come on?