§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH (Bristol, W.)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, What Business would be taken on the Monday and the Thursday after the Recess; and, also, whether he intended to proceed with the Budget Bill to-night?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT) (Derby), in reply, said, he understood the Civil Service Estimates would be taken on the Monday; and, of course, if the right hon. Gentleman wished the Budget Bill not to be taken to-night, he would not take it.
§ MR. W. O'BRIEN (Tyrone, S.)As the Land Bill was not circulated this morning, I would like to ask the Chief Secretary whether the Government intends to make any provision in the Bill dealing with the case of the purchasers of Church Lands in Ireland?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)I regret to say that at the present stage we have been unable to include any provision in the scheme in regard to that matter.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENCan you give any hope that the claims of the purchasers of Church lands will be dealt with in any other shape?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI would rather not commit myself at this moment to any further statement.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHThe right hon. Gentleman has not stated when the Bill will be circulated.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI have seen the draftsman to-day, and he assures me that it will be circulated not later than Wednesday morning.
§ In reply to Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH,
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTsaid, the Government proposed to take the Budget Bill on the Monday after the Recess, as it was very desirable that it should be disposed of before they came to the discussion of the Irish Bills.
§ MR. ADDISON (Ashton-under-Lyne)asked when the Railway and Canal Traffic Bill was likely to be taken?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA) (Sheffield, Brightside), in reply, said, he only wished he had been able to give the hon. Member a positive answer as to when the Bill would be likely to come on. It all depended on what progress was made with the Crofters Bill. If that Bill were got out of the way tonight, he proposed to take the Railway Bill on the Thursday after Easter.