HC Deb 11 May 1885 vol 298 cc145-6
MR. BAXTER

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, looking to the great amount of time spent every Session in discussing Civil Service Estimates and the very small and wholly inadequate and disproportionate result of those discussions, it would be desirable or at all events well worthy of consideration to apply to these Estimates the principle of devolution, by referring them at least in the first instance to a strong Financial Committee, which could examine them in a much more satisfactory manner than a Committee of the whole House?

MR. ONSLOW

rose to Order. He submitted that the Question of the hon. Member was full of the deepest argument, the subject of which might give rise to several nights' debate. He de- sired particularly to draw attention to the preamble and to the latter part of the Question. He begged to ask the right hon. Gentleman in the Chair whether the Question was not out of Order?

MR. SPEAKER

The Question, as I read it, certainly does contain statements which are liable to be disputed. I am always glad, with the sanction of the House, to take every opportunity of eliminating from Questions all matters of a contentious nature. However, the substance of the Question when, such disputatious matter has been eliminated, can be put.

MR. ONSLOW

said, that after the ruling of the Speaker, he presumed that the Question could not be put?

MR. SPEAKER

The Question will remain—to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether any devolution will take place in the case of the Civil Service Estimates?

MR. GLADSTONE

No doubt this is a Question of a kind coming very much into favour, it being in the nature of a scrutiny into the minds and intentions of Her Majesty's Ministers for the time being. Undoubtedly I have great sympathy with the views of my right hon. Friend, and I hope that a time may come when the House will consider what can be done in this direction. I do not think that anything can be done by going the whole length that my right hon. Friend indicated; but still I think progress may be made with great advantage in that direction. I think, however, the House and my right hon. Friend will agree with me that no steps can be taken of that nature during the present Session.