§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN (Birmingham, W.)Would the Chief Secretary, for the convenience of the House, say when the Government propose that the Debate on the proposal for a Scotch Grand Committee should be resumed?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR (Manchester, E.)Perhaps, at the same time, the right hon. Gentleman will make any general statement it may be in his power to make as to the future course of Public Business.
MR. J. MORLEYIn the absence of the Leader of the House, I think I may announce that he proposes to move on Monday that Government Business shall have priority on Tuesdays, and that we shall propose to take Morning Sittings on Fridays. Of course, the Navy Estimates will be taken on Monday as promised, and the future course of the Scotch Debate will be settled in con- 1521 nection with the duration of the Debate on the Navy.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINHow long do the Government intend to take the time of private Members?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, that he had not had time to see the general bearings of the Motion of which the Government gave such short notice, but if it should turn out, after an examination of the precedents, that he and his friends thought the Government were very early interfering with the time of private Members there must be a long Debate. Would that interfere with the Debate on the Navy Estimates, on which they had been promised a full discussion? And if the time on Monday became limited through the cause he had mentioned, would further time be given?
MR. J. MORLEYhoped that no prolonged discussion would be necessary on the Motion he had announced under the very peculiar circumstances in which the House found itself. There was no disposition to grudge the proper time for the naval discussion.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)inquired whether the Government would take all Tuesdays irrespective of the position which some Members had gained through the ballot? In some of the Motions which had obtained the first position many Members took a deep interest.
MR. J. MORLEYreplied that it would be more convenient to deal with that question when the Motion was discussed. He would, however, point out that the only form in which the Government could take the time of the House was that which he mentioned.
§ * SIR C. W. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)understood that if there were any particular topics standing first for Tuesdays in which general interest was taken, the Government would state their course in connection with them on Monday.
§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)Are the Government going to give up certain Tuesdays to their own friends and exclude other Members?