HC Deb 07 July 1890 vol 346 cc939-40
MR. SEXTON

I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury whether ho has any statement to make to the House with regard to the state of public business?

*MR. W. H. SMITH

No, Sir; I have no statement to make.

MR. E. HARRINGTON

Not till next Christmas Eve.

*MR. W. H. SMITH

It will be in the recollection of hon. Members that I stated a few days ago that as soon as the Committee upstairs have reported I should be in a position to make a statement to the House.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Before the Irish Estimates are brought on, will the Government be in a position to state, for the information of the House, what are the proposals they intend to submit as to the amount of money to be appropriated to the purposes of the intended Light Railways? The Government have now been pressed for something like four months for an explanation, and it is most desirable that information should be given.

MR. JACKSON

The Government are not in a position to make any detailed statement now as to the manner in which it is proposed to utilise the money; but, without prejudicing the negotiations which have been going on, my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary does intend to give the House information as to the schemes which it is proposed to carry out. Several of the schemes which have been scheduled are found to be technically not in order, and it will be necessary, I believe, tore-schedule them. I hope that that will be done in the course of a few days.

MR. T. M. HEALT

Will the right hon. Gentleman make that statement before the Vote for the Salaries of the Lord Lieutenant and Chief Secretary is taken?

MR. JACKSON

The statement the Government will have to make on that subject will come more appropriately on the Public Buildings Vote, which contains a sum of £50,000 for the Light Railways.

MR. WADDY (Lincolnshire, Brigg)

May I ask when the leader of the House will be able to state what arrangements are to be made with regard to the money the House generally is so anxious about, namely, the money provided by the Local Taxation Bill, which has already seen and suffered so much?

*MR. W. H. SMITH

I am not at the present moment in a position to make any statement on the subject.