§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)I take the opportunity to ask the First Lord of the Treasury a question about the Vote on Account, which the Government intend to take before Whitsuntide to cover the period until after the General Election. I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has conferred with the Secretary to the Treasury, which he said the other day it would be necessary for him to do, and whether he can now state when the Vote on Account will be taken, and if any Votes on Supply will be taken before the General Election?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.The hon. Gentleman is altogether mistaken as to the answer I gave him to a similar question he put to me on a previous occasion. I said then nothing about taking a Vote on Account over the General Election; in fact, I rather suggested the very opposite to such a proceeding. I said that probably a Vote on Account would have to be taken in accordance with the usual practice at this period of the year before the end of May; but to take a Vote on Account to cover a period of three or six months never entered into my thoughts.
§ DR. TANNERIf the right hon. Gentleman reads his words as they are reported in the Times, he will see that they bear out the interpretation I put upon them, that the right hon. Gentleman required the assistance of the Secretary to the Treasury in order to come to a conclusion as to the period I have mentioned.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ House adjourned at five minutes before Six o'clock.