HC Deb 01 April 1895 vol 32 cc607-9
MR. A. J. BALFOUR (Manchester, E.)

The right hon. Gentleman has been good enough to give us a satisfactory statement about the holidays. Could he tell the House what the programme of business is between now and that date?

SIR W. HARCOURT

Yes, Sir. What I understand is, that to-morrow my right hon. Friend, the Secretary for Ireland, will proceed with the Second Reading of the Irish Land Bill. I hope on Monday next—that is, this day week—to ask leave of the House to introduce the Bill relating to the Local Veto. And I should hope that on the Tuesday, the day before the proposed rising of the House, that we might be able to ask the House to read a second time the Loan Bill in reference to the Navy. It is very desirable that that Bill should be read a second time before the holidays in order to authorise the going on with the works. Also I should hope that we might be able, on the Monday or the Tuesday, to take the Second Reading of the Factories and Workshops Bill, so that when the House meets again, the Bill may go at once to the Grand Committee, if that will be a convenient arrangement. I should hope that that will dispose generally of the business between now and the holidays.

MR. W. E. M. TOMLINSON (Preston)

hoped sufficient time would be given for the discussion of points that would be raised on the Factories Bill.

SIR W. HARCOURT

I should hope that either on Monday or Tuesday time will be found quite sufficient for Gentlemen to express their views on that subject.

SIR D. MACFARLANE (Argyll)

asked if he correctly understood the right hon. Gentleman to mean that on Thursday and Friday of this week he thought that there would be time for the Irish Land Bill.

SIR W. HAROOURT

The Irish Land Bill will be proceeded with until the Second Reading.

MR. COSMO BONSOR (Surrey, Wimbledon)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he could give the House some pledge that a Second Reading Debate would be given to the Liquor Traffic (Local Veto) Bill.

SIR W. HARCOURT

After the holidays?

MR. BONSOR

Yes, after the holidays.

SIR W. HARCOURT

Oh, certainly I am glad to know the hon. Gentleman is so anxious about it. I will do everything I can to gratify the hon. Member.

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN (Birmingham, W.)

I think the calculation of the right hon. Gentleman is based on the assumption that the discussion on the First Reading of the Local Veto Bill will take only one night. Is that so?

SIR W. HARCOURT

Yes. It was done so before, and I do not know why it should not be so again. I should imagine the House would be glad to see the Bill.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN

If the right hon. Gentleman is so sanguine, perhaps I should leave the matter there, but I was going to ask if the Debate should go on beyond one night, will it make any difference in the right hon. Gentleman's arrangements?

SIR W. HARCOURT

Of course it will make a difference in my arrangements.

SIR D. MACFARLANE

asked if it was the intention of the Government to introduce the Crofters Bill before Easter, as promised.

SIR GEORGE TREVELYAN

I should be very glad if time could be found before Easter to lay the Bill for County Government in Scotland before the House and the country. As regards the Crofters Bill, I am equally prepared to introduce that Bill, but I am sorry to say I cannot make time for it.

SIR D. MACFARLANE

If the Secretary for Scotland cannot make time for it, perhaps the Chancellor of the Exchequer could?

SIR W. HARCOURT

No, Sir; I am afraid I cannot.