§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, for the convenience of Members, lie can now state when it is proposed to adjourn for and reassemble after Easter?
THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASUURYI cannot now give a definite or final reply to this question; but my hope in that after a morning sitting on Tuesday week, the 13th, the House will adjourn for the Easter holidays. The precise length of the holidays is not finally settled; but I hope it will not be necessary to meet until the Monday following the Easter Monday.
§ MR. J. MORLEYDo the government intend to take the morning on the Tuesday for Government business?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYMy present idea—but it is not a fixed one—is to have a morning sitting as usual, and that at that sitting nothing should be settled but the adjournment for the holidays, and the introduction by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary of the Bill relating to the Irish Agricultural Board.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYEither on the Thursday after we meet or on the following Monday, I should think. But I am not sure.
§ MR. BRYCEDo the Government intend to take the Employers' Liability Bill on this side of Easter or the other?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYProbably not till after Easter.
MR. T. M. HEALYIf we forego an Irish Debate on the Motion that the Speaker do leave the Chair for the consideration of the Budget, or on the first. Resolution when the Chairman is in the Chair, will the Government devote a reasonable amount of time on the Second Reading of the Budget Bill, or on some 300 other stage, for the discussions of outstanding Irish questions?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI believe that it is on the Second Heading that the occasion would arise for continuing the discussion on which, we have already spent some little Parliamentary time. The Government would have no desire unduly to curtail the Debate on that stage of the Bill; but I am unwilling to say that we would give a "reasonable" time until I know what the lion, and learned Member's view of a "reasonable" time is.
§ MR. CLANCYWhen will the Bill dealing with the Board of Agriculture in Ireland be introduced?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI am anxious to get the Bill printed, if possible, before Easter, in order that it may be discussed in Ireland during the Easter recess. It will be introduced on the Tuesday—the day on which the House adjourns for the holidays.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether he was aware that in addition to the Irish question, an intention existed to raise the important question of the general fiscal policy of the country on the Budget, and whether he would take care, in making arrangements for the Budget, that the latter question was not excluded?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not think that, even if I had the desire, I should have the power to prevent discussion on the Second Reading of the Budget Bill.