HC Deb 21 June 1897 vol 50 cc457-8

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY moved,— That, for the remainder of the Session, Government business do have precedence on Tuesday and Wednesday (except on Wednesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 7), and that the provisions of Standing Order 56 be extended to the other days of the week. He said the Motion would hardly require justification to the minds of hon. Members who had followed the course of business during the present Session. They had reached a period of the Session at which it was usual for the Government to take the time of the House. With reference to the two Wednesdays which were excepted in the Resolution, he reminded the House that, by the Standing Orders, privileges were given on Wednesdays to private Bills which had made a certain amount of progress during the earlier part of the Session, and it seemed to him that the Standing Order would be entirely stultified if the exceptions in question were not allowed. He thought, however, the justice of the case would be met and precedent followed if the two Wednesdays named were put aside. That, he hoped, would be sufficient justification to hon. Members both for the time the Government proposed to take and that which they did not propose to take, and without further preface he begged to move the Motion which stood in his name.

MR. CRILLY (Mayo, N.)

asked whether the Committee stages of those private Bills would be taken as well as the Third Reading?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

said the Government had no control over the Bills which would be put down. That depended on the Standing Order, the whole matter being automatically arranged.