HC Deb 24 March 1893 vol 10 cc1044-5
MR. A. J. BALFOUR (Manchester, E.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is in a position to give an opportunity, on Monday next, for discussing the Vote of Censure on the Irish Government, of which Notice has been given?

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

I am very glad to be able to meet the right hon. Gentleman, and to say that, having carefully considered the state of Public Business, we propose to accede to his desire that Monday should be appropriated for his Motion reviewing and impugning the conduct of the Irish Department of the Government. By way of guarding myself, however, I am obliged to say that I do not regard a Motion for impugning the conduct of a particular Department of a Government as of itself entitling even a large Party in the House to demand a day from the Government. That right of demand, if I may so describe it, is limited, by usage and by policy, to cases in which what is called a Vote of Want of Confidence is moved. Of course the right of reviewing and censuring the doings of a Department of the Government is a very large one, and we could not possibly apply to it the principle which is applied to direct Votes of Confidence. That raises no practical question at the present moment, however, inasmuch as, in view of the general convenience of the House, we accede to the request of the right hon. Gentleman.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The right hon. Gentleman is by far the highest authority in the House on this subject, and I do not question his general statement. I can only say that I am grateful to him for the concession he has made.

MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)

At what hour will the Motion he taken on Monday?

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

We propose to take it the first thing.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can state when the the Easter Recess will commence, and how long he proposes that it shall last?

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

I shall make a communication to the House on that subject on Monday.

MR. MACFARLANE (Argyll)

May I ask whether if the Vote on Account is not disposed of on Tuesday it will be taken on the Wednesday or the Thursday following?

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

It is impossible to state definitely now what may take place.

MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in the existing unprecedented state of Public Business, he will consider the propriety and public policy of proceeding with business this year without any Recess?

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

One or two mysterious hints have already been made on this subject, and I propose to clear up the matter on Monday.