§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether it is proposed to allot the three extra days for consideration of Supply, as provided by the Sessional Order of 26th February; and, if so, whether he can mention the dates which will be so allotted?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYreplied that extra days for Supply might be necessary; if so, it would be for the convenience of the House to adhere to Fridays. He trusted the House would assist the Government to get through the rest of Supply, so as to make the practice of taking it on Fridays a success. He thought everyone would admit that it had been a great convenience. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ MR. JOHN DILLON (Mayo, E.)asked whether the First Lord of the Treasury could give Friday week as well as next Friday to the Irish Votes?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYsaid the matter was not a pressing one, and he could not make a declaration about next Friday until the beginning of next week.
§ MR. ELLISsaid that if Fridays only were devoted to Supply, that would take them a long way into August.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI see no immediate prospect of our rising early in August.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESasked whether, with a view of expediting the passing of Votes that afternoon, the right hon. Gentleman would move the adjournment of the House at the conclusion of Government business?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYreplied that, as far as the management of the Order Paper rested with the Government, he had followed the principle of not putting down Bills for Fridays, because he wished it to be clearly understood that Fridays would be devoted to Supply only, but he had no control over private Bills.