§ MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Isle of Thanet), referring to a notice of Motion to suspend the 12 o'clock Rule, asked whether it was to be understood that it was not intended to take any Votes after 12 o'clock, and, if that surmise was correct, whether the Leader of the House would reconsider his idea of asking the House to agree to-night to the Motion that the Speaker leave the Chair.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYMy right hon. Friend is perfectly right in his supposition. I do not propose taking any Votes in Supply tonight, but I think it is necessary for the general convenience of the House that Mr. Speaker should be got out of the Chair on the Civil Service Estimates tonight, otherwise we should not be able to begin on Thursday week with the discussion in Supply.
§ MR. JAMES LOWTHERDo I understand that there is any financial urgency to make that necessary? Or would it not be more in accordance with the usual practice to continue the discussion on the Motion "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair" on the reassembling of the House?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYNo, I do not think it would be more in accordance with the usual practice. I do not know any occasion on which that Motion is taken the first Thursday after the Recess; and, as to the other question, there is no legal necessity in the matter, but simply a matter of Parliamentary convenience.