HC Deb 16 March 1893 vol 10 cc261-4

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Reports of the Committees of Supply and Ways and Means may be entered upon at any hour though opposed, and the proceedings thereon shall not be interrupted under the provisions of any Standing Order regulating the Sittings of the House, except of Standing Order No. 5."—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I think the House might agree to the Motion if it were on all fours with the Motion proposed by the predecessors of the Government. But that is not the case, and it is the first time the Government have proposed, as far as I know, that it should become a Standing Order.

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That is a separate question.

MR. BARTLEY

said, he would like to have an undertaking from the Government that where there was a good deal of contentious matter, and where they allowed Votes to go through in Committee for the convenience of the Government, the Report of Supply should he put down on those occasions at such a reasonable hour that matters could be discussed. If they passed the Motion as a Standing Order it must be on the understanding that where special cases were brought forward the Government would undertake not to force the Debate on Report of Supply at all hours of the night. He asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for an explicit statement that sufficient time would always be allowed for the discussion of contentious matters. As the Resolution stood, he considered that it would enable Report of Supply to be taken at any hour on any occasion without proper discussion.

SIR W. HARCOURT

The proposal to make the Resolution a Standing Order was made on the representation of the authorities of the House, that that course would be the most convenient. The Government will be anxious to consult the convenience of the House with reference to discussions on Report of Supply. I cannot give any absolute undertaking. It might be absolutely necessary, as the hon. Member will see, that there should be no delay—on an important Vote on Account, for instance—but although I can give no absolute undertaking, if there should be a fair demand for a discussion upon Report of Supply, it would doubtless be allowed.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

said, the House would be most anxious to support the Government, and assist them in carrying through Business, so as to enable compliance to be made with the law; and no one was more ready to assist them than he was. But he understood the right hon. Gentleman now to say that if there was a bona fide object in discussing any subject on Report of Supply, he would undertake that Report should be brought on at a reasonable hour, when the subject could be discussed. He thought the right hon. Gentleman would observe that the requirements of the law would be in no respect jeopardised by his placing the Report of Supply as the first Order on Monday. That would enable any subjects which were crowded out of the Debate in Committee of Supply by the exigencies of the moment to be discussed.

SIR W. HARCOURT

I shall be glad to consider the suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman; but until we see how matters stand, I cannot give a promise. But I have another suggestion to make: to give a little more elbow-room to hon. Gentlemen to-morrow, which, perhaps, might be carried out with the co-operation of both sides of the House. I propose to put down Effective Supply for the Evening Sitting. The Motions put down on the Paper for to-morrow evening do not seem to me to † e of a very urgent description; and if non. Members who are responsible for those Motions are willing to postpone them, the whole of the Sitting will be available for the discussion.

Question put, and agreed to.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the said Resolution be a Standing Order of this House."—(The Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

SIR W. HARCOURT

I will not press the Motion if the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition objects; but I understood that it would be for the convenience of the House generally, not only for ourselves, but for those who come after us, that the Motion should be a Standing Order.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I quite understood the right hon. Gentleman put this down in deference to objections which have been made from time to time. But I believe it is so considerable an interference with the ancient privileges of the House in regard to Supply, that, on the whole, the House would be well advised in requiring each Government to bring the Motion forward in turn.

SIR W. HARCOURT

I will not press it.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

said that it was perfectly absurd to say that the Motion would affect ancient privileges. Report of Supply was never taken until 2 o'clock in the morning until the late Government passed the Rule that the House should rise at 12 o'clock. The "ancient privilege," therefore, dated only about two years back, Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

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