HC Deb 31 March 1882 vol 268 cc492-3
SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

I beg to ask the Prime Minister, Whether the time has been fixed for taking the Navy Estimates; and whether there is any other information the Government can give us as to Business?

MR. GLADSTONE

I am glad the Question has been put. I will state what I think ought to be the course of Business. The House is aware that we propose to take the Miscellaneous Estimates on Monday. It will, however, be necessary, in consequence of circumstances that the House knows very well as to the date before which the annual Mutiny Bill must pass, that we should put down the second reading of that measure as the first Order on Monday. If the se- cond reading be not taken to-night, it will be the first Order on Monday. We are already pledged to take the discussion upon the Army Estimates on Monday, the 17th—the first day after the Recess. We have considered whether it will be most convenient for the House that after that day we should proceed on Thursday with the Resolutions relating to Procedure, or whether we should consider further financial questions which have to be discussed. In the first place, we have a pledge, not so definite in point of time, but we have pledged ourselves to the Navy Estimates; and, in the second place, the time of year will have arrived at which it will be desirable to make the Financial Statement. Upon the whole, I think it would be most convenient and most satisfactory to the House if we take those subjects which are more or less allied together; and we therefore propose to take the Committee on Navy Estimates on Thursday, the 20th of April, and the Financial Statement on Monday, the 24th. After that we shall have the ground comparatively clear; and it will be more convenient to the House to take the subject of Procedure consecutively, so far as we can make it consecutive.

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON

asked when the Education Estimates would be taken?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

said, these Estimates would be taken first on Monday.

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL

asked what Business was to be taken at the Morning Sitting on Tuesday?

MR. GLADSTONE

That must depend, in some degree, on the proceedings on Monday.