HC Deb 18 July 1893 vol 14 cc1824-6
MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

In the absence of the hon. Baronet the Member for South St. Pancras, I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what period of time it is intended to propose the next Vote on Account?

SIR W. HARCOURT

It may be convenient to the House that I should state what course the Government propose to take with reference to Supply. In the ensuing week the Government propose to devote six days to Supply, from Friday, July 28, until Friday, August 4, both inclusive. When the Vote on Account will be taken, whether at the beginning of these six days or at the end, must depend upon a matter upon which I desire to make some further inquiry. There will be some convenience in taking the Vote at the end of the period instead of at the beginning, if that is compatible with the public interests. We propose, out of the six days I have mentioned, to devote two days to the Vote on Account, either on Friday, July 28, and Monday, July 31, or Thursday, August 3, and Friday, August 4. At the end of this week or the beginning of next I shall be able to tell the House whether it will be possible to take the Vote on Account on Thursday, August 3, and Friday, August 4. I presume if these two days are given to the Vote on Account there will be no protracted discussion on Report. I shall ask for a Vote on Account for six weeks.

SIR C. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)

May I ask whether the Friday evenings will be taken for Supply and the Vote on Account, or whether that Business will be proceeded with at Morning Sittings?

SIR W. HARCOURT

At Morning Sittings.

MR. HANBURY

Is it absolutely necessary to get the Vote on Account by the end of this month? I understand the Chancellor of the Exchequer said the other day that he had no money to go on with after the end of the month. Is the House now to understand that it is immaterial on what precise day the Government obtains the Vote on Account?

SIR W. HARCOURT

No; the House must not understand that at all. On some Votes there is some money to go on with for a few days longer; on others that is not the case. I am not now in a position to say whether or not it will be possible to go on until August 3 without a Vote on Account. The statement I made the other day was made on the information I had then. On the information I have now I think it is possible we may go on until August 3 without a Vote on Account, though I am not speaking positively, and cannot do so until I have consulted the Departments as to the amount they have in hand. In the Civil Departments money cannot be applied from one Vote to another, as in the Army and Navy. In the case of the Civil Departments there must be money enough for each Department to go on with.

MR. HANBURY

As we are to have six days for Supply, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that he will not take the Vote on Account on the last two possible days?

SIR W. HARCOURT

No; I will not undertake that. That is what I contemplate doing.

SIR F. S. POWELL (Wigan)

What Votes are to be taken in Supply?

SIR W. HARCOURT

My present intention is to take the Votes in the order in which they stand; but I will not bind myself to that course, as it may be necessary to alter it.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

I presume that the Civil Service Estimates alone are to be taken in Committee of Supply?

SIR W. HARCOURT

Yes.

MR. H. T. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN (Kent, Faversham)

And not the Navy Votes?

SIR W. HARCOURT

No.