HC Deb 11 June 1896 vol 41 cc859-61
MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he will move to suspend the Twelve o'clock Rule on Friday night, so as to enable the Committee on the Irish Land Bill to be proceeded with after that hour?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

In the somewhat exceptional and unexpected circumstances that took place last Monday, I think it would be desirable to suspend the Twelve o'clock Rule on Friday. [Cries of "Oh!"] But of course it must not be understood from that that I think it is either possible or desirable to have a very prolonged sitting of the House, and the object of suspending the Rule would be to get through the business under discussion at that hour and to prevent any undue delay in the discussion of the Bill.

MR. DILLON

I should like to know whether the First Lord contemplates anything in the nature of an all-night sitting, or whether it is only with the object of concluding any business that may be actually under discussion at 12 o'clock. I should also like to ask whether he would not consider it a more effective way of giving an opportunity for the consideration of this Bill by proposing a few Saturday sittings. [Ministerial cries of "Oh!" and Irish cheers.]

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

I think I did answer the first part of the hon. Member's Question before he put it. I have no idea whatever, so far as I am concerned, of aiding or permitting a prolonged sitting of the House on Friday. With regard to Saturday sittings, as the House is aware, they put a great strain, and if very often repeated, an undue strain, both on the Members of the House and the officers. I hope the Bill may be satisfactorily disposed of in the course of the present Session without having recourse to such exceptional methods. [Cheers]

MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

asked whether it was not the general understanding, when the so-called Twelve o'clock Rule was adopted and the House undertook to meet an hour earlier, that the Rule should not be suspended except under very exceptional circumstances and with the general assent of all parts of the House?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

No, Sir; I do not think there was that understanding, and if it had been the understanding that "the consent of all parties" meant practically a unanimous consent, I think I am not wrong in saying that under no Party which has been in power would the Twelve o'clock Rule have been suspended. But I agree with my right hon. Friend that the seldomer we suspend the Twelve o'clock Rule on the whole the better. [Cheers.]

MR. JAMES LOWTHER

I will take the sense of the House on that question to-morrow. [Cheers.]

MR. HENRY LABOUCHERE (Northampton)

asked whether there was any precedent for suspending the Twelve o'clock Rule on the first day of the Committee stage of an important Bill?

MR. T. M. HEALY

asked whether, as the Benefices Bill had already taken two Wednesdays, the First Lord of the Treasury would give them next Wednesday for the Land Bill?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

I think I have stated to the House that when we begin the Education Bill it will be better that we should make steady and continuous progress with it. It is necessarily interrupted on Fridays by the discussions in Supply, and I think it would not be right to give next Wednesday to it. I can assure the hon. and learned Gentleman I am extremely desirous that the Bill should be passed, and everything I can do to further that object shall be done.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

asked whether the First Lord intended to give next Wednesday to the Benefices Bill?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, Order!