§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)asked whether it would be convenient for the first Lord of the Treasury to state more in detail than he was able to do yesterday the course of business for next week?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYOn Monday, as I think I stated before, the first Order will be the Resolution in Committee of the whole House 413 for the Poor School Boards Bill. The second Order will be the Merchant Shipping (Undermanning) Bill. These will follow the I hope, comparatively uncontroversial questions which are down upon the Paper. On Thursday, the first Order will be the Berriew School Bill— [ironical Opposition cheers]—and the second Order will be the Criminal Evidence Bill. On Monday week, I should think, the most convenient course would be, although I do not pledge myself to it, to follow the precedent of last year, and put down first the Resolution enabling us to rise for the Easter holidays. After that I should hope to take the Second Beading of the Poor School Boards Bill. If I cannot find an opportunity of having the Board of Agriculture (Ireland) Bill introduced before, it will be introduced on Tuesday.
§ MR. JOHN DILLON (Mayo, E.)What will be the business on this day week?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI have received no special intimation from any quarter of the House as to what Supply should be taken on this day week, and perhaps the Question had better be repeated on Monday or Tuesday next.
§ MR. MORLEYIt will not be at all convenient to take the Second Reading of the School Boards Bill so very shortly after the Resolution, and I would point out that the right hon. Gentleman has omitted to make any allowance for the Report stage of the Resolution.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI have assumed that a Bill brought in by universal desire on both sides of the House, which is extremely short and extremely simple, is not one to which much Parliamentary time need be devoted [Ministerial cheers] or any great interval allowed for the purpose of setting down Amendments. With regard to the Report stage of the Resolution, I shall propose to take that on Thursday after midnight, as the Twelve o'clock Rule does not apply to it.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)asked whether there was any probability of a part of the time of the House being required for a Vote of Censure before Easter?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI have no information.