§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I wish to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer a question, of which I have given him private notice, with regard to the position of the Factories Bill, which is the sixth item of Government business on the Paper today. It is whether on the last occasion when he was publicly asked in the House whether it would be taken before Easter, in order that it might be referred to the Standing Committee, the right hon. Gentleman stated that it would be taken to-day, and whether it is now intended that the three Scotch Bills and the Light Railways Bill should stand before it?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIt is quite true, as the right hon. Gentleman has stated, that I had the expectation and the intention of putting the Factories Bill down for tonight. But we will put it down as the first order on the Monday the House reassembles. No time will in that way be lost; the Bill will be as far forward as if the Second Reading had been taken to-day.
§ MR. G. J. GOSCHEN (St. George's, Hanover Square)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can state now on what day the Budget will be taken?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe day I should fix, though I do not wish to be finally bound to it, would be Thursday, May 2nd.
§ MR. G. J. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)Will the right hon. Gentleman make arrangements to secure the First Reading of the Crofters Bill to-night?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERAs far as I am concerned, certainly.
§ MR. J. H. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)Can the right hon. Gentleman say what will be the second and third orders on the day on which the House meets? In the event of the Crofters Bill and the other Scotch Bills not being reached to-night, will they come on as a matter of course?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUEROur object is to proceed as much as possible with Bills which may be considered non-controversial. I should, therefore, propose after the Factories Bill, to take such Bills, for instance, as the Fatal Accidents (Scotland) Bill, which, I believe, is non-contentious, the Truck Acts Amendment Bill, and the Coal Mines Bill.
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELL (Wigton)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Fatal Accidents (Scotland) Bill will be opposed, and will he take into consideration the fact that in order to be in their places on Monday Scotch Members will have to leave their homes on Saturday?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERWe feel that Scotch business is a good deal in arrear, and therefore we are bound to do what we can to forward it, even at the risk of some inconvenience which I am afraid may be caused to hon. Members.
§ SIR D. MACFARLANE (Argyll)Will the right hon. Gentleman stop the discussion on the Naval Works Bill at 11 o'clock to-night in order to enable the Crofters Bill to be taken?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI should very much hope that the discussion will stop before that time, and that there will be plenty of time to introduce the Crofters Bill.
§ SIR D. MACFARLANEIf the discussion should continue, will the right hon. Gentleman suspend it?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIt is very necessary to get the Second Reading of the Naval Works Bill to-night.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR (Manchester, E.)Can the right hon. Gentleman without inconvenience tell us what business he proposes to take on the Thursday after the meeting of Parliament?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI have been asked by the late Secretary to the Admiralty to give an opportunity on Vote 8 of the Naval Estimates for a discussion of the question of boilers, and though I cannot pledge myself at this time, my contemplation is that we might give such an opportunity on the Thursday after the meeting of the House.
§ MR. STUART-WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam)asked whether the Coal Mines Bill was likely to be distributed to Members to-day or to-morrow. Last night it was not printed.
§ MR. ASQUITHIt will be in the hands of the Members to-morrow.