MR. GIBSON BOWLESinquired when the First Lord of the Treasury proposed to move for the appointment of a Select Committee to ascertain and report upon the construction and meaning of the new Sessional Order passed on Thursday night.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYreplied that he had given no promise as to the appointment of a Committee, and had only pointed out that that was one of the methods which might be adopted. It would be in the recollection of the House that he gave a pledge that, before the Government acted on the interpretation which he and the Government gave to the Resolution, the House of Commons should be asked to give its assent, and to that pledge he, of course, adhered.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)asked what was the programme of Government business next week.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYsaid, the first business on Monday would be the statement of the First Lord of the Admiralty, with the Speaker in the Chair, on the general subject of the Navy Estimates. After that statement the adjournment of the Debate would be moved, and the Naval Works Bill would be introduced. Thereafter they would go on with the Supplementary Estimates. On Friday, of course, the Estimates would be put down, and he imagined on Thursday also, though that would depend partly on the progress made.
§ SIR W. HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)said, if the matters in the statement of the First Lord of the Admiralty were of a novel and extensive character, it would be desirable that Members especially conversant with Naval affairs should have an opportunity of considering it, and they would desire that the Navy Estimates should not be taken at all next week.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYsuggested that, before asking for a final answer, the right hon. Gentleman should wait until he heard the statement of the First Lord of the Admiralty. He would remind him and the House that in any case it would not be the Naval Estimates that would be discussed on Monday, but Motions on the question that the Speaker leave the Chair.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLasked when the Irish Estimates would be taken.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYreplied that he could not say, but full notice would be given beforehand.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYsignified assent.