HC Deb 12 May 1892 vol 4 cc729-30
MR. W. E. GLADSTONE (Edinburgh, Midlothian)

I should like to ask the Government whether they will take the Budget on Monday, and a second question has reference to a notice which I think has now appeared many times on the Paper without any apparent progress being made. I should like to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to a notice he has given of what appears to be the very desirable object of fixing the relative contributions of the three Kingdoms to the Exchequer, whether he thinks that notice can be taken to-night? I am not aware that it is one that is likely to excite any prolonged discussion.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

We shall be very glad to take the Budget on Monday, if that meets with the views of Gentlemen opposite, because I hope we shall then have finished the discussion on the Small Holdings Bill. With respect to the second question, my right hon. Friend (Mr. Goschen) asks me to say that as soon as convenient after eleven o'clock to-night he will be prepared to submit the matter referred to with a view of bringing it to a satisfactory conclusion before twelve o'clock.

MR. SEYMOUR KEAY (Elgin and Nairn)

May the House understand that the Indian Councils Bill will not be taken to-night?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Yes.

MR. H. H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)

If the Budget is taken on Monday, I suppose the Irish Local Government Bill will be taken on Thursday the 19th?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not know why we should not take it on Tuesday.

MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)

Do we understand that the fourth stage of the Local Taxation Relief (Scotland) Bill will not be taken till after the Second Reading of the Irish Bill?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Yes; it will not be taken till after the Irish Bill.

MR. SAMUEL EVANS (Glamorgan, Mid)

With reference to the third Order of the Day, may I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange to take the discussion on it as early as ten o'clock? The matter is a very complicated one, and there will not be time properly to discuss it between eleven or a quarter past and twelve o'clock.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The subject may be a complicated one, but I think it would be rather hard to expect the House to interrupt important Business at such an early hour. I cannot, therefore, adopt that suggestion.

MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

As the right hon. Gentleman is not certain that he will be able to take the Irish Bill on Tuesday, I should like to ask him what notice he will give?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put that question to-morrow.

MR. THOMAS ELLIS (Merionethshire)

In view of the fact that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has seen fit to make the question for to-night not only a matter of detail, but of principle, I should like to ask him whether he will not give us more than three-quarters of an hour to discuss this question?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

While the Government have every desire to meet the wishes of hon. Gentlemen opposite, it is impossible to abstract more time than I have mentioned, and I hope the hon. Member will be content with one hour.

MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

Could we not take it on Tuesday afternoon?