§ MR. CHAPLINasked the noble Marquess the Secretary of State for War, in the absence of the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will arrange to take the Second Reading of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill as first Order of the Day on Thursday next, if the Debate on the Supplementary Estimates is concluded on Monday?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, if the whole of the Supplementary Estimates are passed to-night, the second reading of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill will be taken on Thursday. I am afraid, however, that as the number of the Supplementary Estimates is very large, it will be necessary to make Supply the first Order of the Day for Thursday.
§ MR. CHAPLINasked whether the Government would agree to take the second reading of the Bill on the first Government night after the Supplementary Estimates had been disposed of?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI am afraid that it will be necessary next week to proceed with the Army and Navy Estimates.
MR. GORSTasked whether the Bill would take precedence of the Merchant Shipping Bill?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI think that the hon. and learned Gentleman had better give Notice of his Question, 1045 Her Majesty's Government are anxious to proceed with the second reading of this Bill as soon as possible; but I cannot give any promise on the subject.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEWill the noble Marquess state upon what day the Army Estimates will be taken?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONIn my reply to the Question of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for North Lancashire (Colonel Stanley), I explained that there has been greater delay than usual in laying these Estimates upon the Table. They are, however, in print, and a number of them will be at the Vote Office to-night for the use of hon. Members who desire to have a copy of them at once. The whole distribution will be made on Wednesday. We propose to move the Army Estimates on Monday.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHWhen will the Army Estimates be taken?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEThursday is the day fixed for the second reading of the Reform Bill. I presume from the answer of the noble Marquess that the Estimates will take precedence of that measure.