§ MR. BRODRICK (Surrey, Guildford)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to his pledge given on 15th March, that the general discussion on the Army Estimates should be resumed on an early day if the Vote for the Pay and Allowances of the Army were then taken, he will fix a day before Whitsuntide for this discussion?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR (Manchester, E.)Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will also tell us his general view as to the business of the House to be taken before the Whitsuntide Recess, and what business he means to take immediately after the House reassembles?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERAs regards the last question, I must postpone that for a day or two. As regards business before the holidays what I hope is—that to-day and to-morrow we shall be able practically to dispose of the Budget Bill. From the Amendments on the Paper I do not think there will be any difficulty about that. Then I hope to-morrow to be able to get the Speaker out of the Chair, and enter upon Supply. Then I propose to take on the Thursday and Friday of next week the Vote on Account—that is to say, giving one day for the Vote on Account and the second day for the Report of the Vote on Account. On Monday and Tuesday we propose to proceed with the Welsh Bill. I understand it will not take long to finish the Naval Works Bill. There is only one point left to be disposed of. I am sorry to see that an hon. Gentleman opposite shakes his head, which menaces the holidays. I hope that may not be so. But I understand there is only one point in dispute, and, that being so, I hope to get rid of it on Monday or Tuesday next. The House will remember that they are really the masters of their own time and their own holidays, and it depends very much upon their desire how long the holidays will be.
§ MR. BALFOURDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean to adjourn the Welsh Bill early on Monday or Tuesday?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERYes, Sir; if some understanding can be arrived at that the Naval Works Bill will only take a short time.
§ MR. BRODRICKI must remind the right hon. Gentleman that he has not answered my question.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI am afraid, from what I have already said, that the hon. Gentleman will assume that I have not got a place for the business about which he asks. I should be very glad if I could get a place. I think he will observe that 122 rather more than the usual time has already been given to the Army Estimates at this time of the year.
§ MR. T. GIBSON BOWLESWill the right hon. Gentleman place the Naval Works Bill as the first Order on Monday? I think it could be disposed of before the dinner hour.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI cannot say.
§ MR. J. G. TALBOT (Oxford University)Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Welsh Church Bill will be taken first or second on Monday?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERUnless I can come to some understanding on that matter, I am afraid the Naval Works Bill will have to go over. I am extremely anxious to dispose of it if I can have some understanding as to the time it will take. I am anxious to go on with it, but if I cannot have this understanding it must be postponed.
§ MR. KENYON (Denbigh District)Do I understand that the Welsh Church Bill will not be taken immediately after the re-assembling of the House after the Whitsuntide Recess?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThat depends a little on when the House reassembles.