HC Deb 20 August 1894 vol 29 cc123-4

Order read for Report of Supply [18th August.]

SIR W. HARCOURT

At this late hour I do not think there would be any advantage in our going on with any of the Reports of Supply on the Paper.

Report deferred till To-morrow.

MR. SEXTON

Do the Government intend to postpone the Report of Supply?

SIR W. HARCOURT

Yes.

MR. SEXTON

We understood that Report of Supply was to be taken to-day?

SIR W. HARCOURT

We are going to take the Report of Supply tomorrow.

MR. SEXTON

said, the Irish Members understood it was to be taken tonight. He was at a loss to understand why the outstanding Report of Supply should be postponed, having been led to believe that to-morrow the House would take the Report of Supply granted today. The Education Vote and the Post Office Vote would come first to-morrow, and important discussions would then take place. He doubted if the Sitting to-morrow would be adequate for the purpose. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had fixed Friday for concluding the business of the Session; but unless he now cleared off the Reports of the business in Supply done on previous evenings, the intention in that respect would not be realised?

MR. TOMLINSON

asked if there was any Question before the House?

MR. SEXTON

said, he was discussing the question of the postponement of the Reports of Supply of August 17th and August 18th.

MR. SPEAKER

No Report has been handed in. There is no Question before the House.

MR. DALZIEL,

rising to Order, said, that the discussion of many Votes had been put off as the result of an answer some of them had received from the Treasury Bench that Report of Supply was to be taken to-night. It was distinctly understood earlier in the evening that only the Report of the Votes agreed to that night would be taken to-morrow.

MR. SEXTON

submitted that the Order for the consideration of the Report of Supply of 1st June had been called, and the Motion made to defer it until "to-day."

MR. SPEAKER

No; Report of Supply must be handed in to the Clerk before it can be considered.

MR. SEXTON

Is this not the postponement of the Order of the Day for the consideration of the Report of Supply?

MR. SPEAKER

No.