§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he can now state, for the convenience of Irish Members, on what day the Second Reading of the Irish Land Bill will be taken; and, whether the Government will move to refer the Bill to a Grand Committee?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.Perhaps it would be convenient that, in answering this Question, I should state what the intentions of the Government are with regard to the business after the holidays. On the supposition, of course, that we get through the Committee stage of the Rating Bill before the holidays, we should propose to take on Monday week the Light Railways Bill as the first Order, and the Finance Bill as the second Order. On the Tuesday we should propose to take the Second Reading of the Diseases of Animals Bill as the first Order, and the Finance Bill as the second Order. On the Thursday we should propose to take the Resolution with regard to the Indian troops. The Friday will be devoted to Supply. The Monday following will be devoted to the Irish Land Bill, and the Friday to Irish Supply.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)Will the right hon. Gentleman state what the intentions of the Government are with reference to the later stages of the Rating Bill—whether he proposes to take that before the Education Bill or afterwards? With reference to the Finance Bill, I think the right hon. Gentleman stated yesterday 82 that his intention was to take that Bill only on the Monday. There are Amendments of considerable importance to the Finance Bill, and therefore I ask him whether he will not put the Bill down for a later day than the Monday?
§ MR. DILLONI would like to point out to the First Lord of the Treasury, that he did not take any notice of the second portion of my question—whether the Government will move to refer the Irish Land Bill to a Grand Committee?
§ MR. HENRY BROADHURST (Leicester)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is imperative that the Conciliation (Trades Disputes) Bill be taken to-morrow? I think there should be some Debate upon that Bill, and many Members have made engagements for to-morrow, not expecting that the Bill would be taken to-morrow.
§ MR. LAMBERTWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is intended to take the Wednesday after the holidays for Government business?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYWith regard to the question put to me by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Leicester, I have to say I am anxious to meet the convenience of hon. Gentlemen as much as possible; but, of course, it is impossible to meet everybody's convenience. I hope the House will permit the Conciliation (Trades Disputes) Bill to be taken tomorrow. I propose that the House should meet at 12 o'clock, so that there will be time for a brief discussion without putting the mass of the House to great inconvenience. As to the Wednesday after the Holidays, the hon. Member for South Molton is doubtless aware that the practice of the House is that the first two or three Wednesdays after Whitsuntide are devoted to the consideration of private Members' Bills which have made some advance during the early portion of the Session. I do not propose to break through that precedent. With regard to the question of the hon. Member for East Mayo, I think it would be better I should answer it, and give my reasons at the time of the Second Reading of the Bill. As to the Finance Bill, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer suggests that the two controversial parts of the Bill—namely, the Estate Duty and the Land Tax parts—should not be taken on 83 Monday. Perhaps, if those portions are deferred there will be no objection to the Bill being proceeded with. The Report stage of the Rating Bill will be taken after the Committee Stage of the Education Bill.
§ *SIR C. DILKEIs it the intention of the Government to press the Military Manœuvres Bill?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYMy heart has been broken over the Military Manœuvres Bill—[a laugh]—it is almost too painful a subject to allude to. I confess I do not see my way to put the Bill down as the first Order on the Monday or Tuesday, because the result of so doing might be that other Measures would not make progress.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTWhat will be the Bills for the Monday after the holidays?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYThe first Order will be the Light Railways Bill, and the second Order the Finance Bill, the two parts I have mentioned not being taken. We might advance a stage the Cabs Bill and the Naval Reserve Bill.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)Will the right hon. Gentleman state whether the Government intend to support the Motion for the adjournment for the Derby?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYNo, Sir; the Government take no part in that matter. Hon. Gentlemen on this occasion, as on previous occasions, will vote according to their tastes.