HC Deb 18 February 1886 vol 302 cc591-3
MR. ISAACS

I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury a Question of which I have given him private Notice— namely, Whether, having regard to the large amount of distress now unhappily prevailing consequent upon the want of employment among artizans and others, Her Majesty's Government were prepared to name an early day for the discussion of the Motion on the Paper suggesting that the Local Government Board should be instructed temporarily to relax their rules as to the granting of outdoor relief?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE)

Perhaps the hon. Member will put the Question to the President of the Local Government Board, as it more regularly refers to that Department, and the Question is new to me.

MR. ISAACS

I put it to the President of the Local Government Board, and it was at his suggestion that I now ask the Prime Minister the Question. I have copies of the correspondence. ["Order!"]

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE (after a brief consultation with Mr. CHAMBERLAIN)

said: I understand that there is a mistake on the part of the hon. Member. The effect of the answer of my right hon. Friend was that he had not control of the Business of the House.

MR. ISAACS

And suggested that I should put the Question to the Leader of Her Majesty's Government. I beg to throw myself on the indulgence of the House while I read the letter received from the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Local Government Board. I should not have taken this step if my statement had not been doubted. [Cries of "Agreed!"]

MR. SPEAKER

There does not seem to be any need of explanation on the part of the hon. Member. If he proposes to put his Question to the Prime Minister he is perfectly at liberty to do so.

MR. ISAACS

I have put the Question, and the Prime Minister has suggested to me that I should have addressed it to the President of the Local Government Board. I did so address it.

MR. SPEAKER

If the hon. Member will address himself to the President of the Local Government Board he will, no doubt, receive an answer.

MR. ISAACS

Then, Sir, with the leave of the House I will address the Question to the President of the Local Government Board, and I will take the opportunity of asking the right hon. Gentleman whether the letter which I hold in my hands from the Local Government Board was written at his direction— Sir,—I am directed by Mr. Chamberlain to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 9th instant, and to remind you that it is not within his power to regulate the Business of the House of Commons. Mr. Chamberlain can only suggest that your Question might be addressed to the Prime Minister on the re-assembling of Parliament? I thereupon wrote to the Prime Minister a letter, of which I have a copy, telling him it was my intention to address a Question to him on the re-assembling of the House.

MR. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN

I am not quite certain what the Question put to me is. Certainly, I admit the authenticity of the letter which the hon. Member has just read. He has not, however, read the letter to which it was a reply; but that was to the effect that he had a Motion on the Paper, and he wished to know from me whether the Government would give facilities for its discussion? I made the reply which the hon. Member has read. Of course, I assumed that he would communicate with the Prime Minister, and gave him full Notice that he proposed to ask a Question with regard to the Business of the House. I may add that if the hon. Member desires to call attention to the subject-matter of his Motion I cannot conceive that he will have any difficulty in doing so during the debate on the Address, and I shall be prepared to give him any information in my power.