HC Deb 07 March 1893 vol 9 cc1293-4
Mr. A. J. BALFOUR

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will tell us what will be the first Order on Thursday?

SIR W. HARCOURT

There might be some inconvenience in proceeding with the Navy Estimates. The Army Estimates will be taken on Thursday.

MR. HANBURY

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman intended to stand by the arrangement announced at the commencement of the Sitting, namely, that the Supplementary Army Estimates would be taken first. If that course was not pursued, he should like to know what precedent there was for taking money for the coming year before the money for the past year had been obtained.

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

If it was stated at the commencement of the Sitting that the Supplementary Army Estimates were to be taken first on Thursday, I think it must have been owing to a misunderstanding, I have consulted the Authorities of the House, and I find that the Supplementary Estimates can be taken either before or after the Ordinary Estimates. It seems to me convenient that we should take the first Vote in the regular Estimates first, and afterwards the Supplementary Estimates. The latter do not contain any specific items, but are mainly representative of certain overcharges that have to be paid in connection with the first Vote of the Army Estimates.

MR. HANBURY

May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, if it is according to the practice of the House to take money for the coming year before the Supplementary Estimates for the past year are before the House?

MR. SPEAKER

It was done in 1889 and on other occasions.