§ MR. J. MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)Will the First Lord of the Treasury tell us what business will be taken on Thursday? I understand, of course, that the answer partly depends on the progress made to-night.
§ DR. R. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)And what Supply will be taken on Friday?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I am afraid that all these Questions are problematical, as the answers depend on the progress we make to-night. I hope to get the Supplementary Estimates through on Thursday night; but in any case they must be got through by Friday night in order to comply with the law. What Bills will be taken on Thursday will depend on the progress we make with the Estimates to-night. The Bills which are on the Paper to-night, but which may not be dealt with, will have precedence; but I ought to make an exception in favour of a Resolution of my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works, who, as the House knows, has to bring in a Bill which must be passed at a near date to enable the new Government buildingtobe commenced at Whitehall.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)I would ask whether, if Thursday is to be devoted to Bills, precedence will be given to those which remain over from to-night. I have particularly in view the Private Bill Procedure (Scotland) Bill. I do not express any hostility to the Bill, but it has not been long enough in the hands of Members to enable them to become duly informed of general Scottish opinion on the subject, and if it could be passed over it might be convenient?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI recognise that the right hon. Gentleman, at all events, speaks on this subject for an important Scottish section, and, in order to meet his views, I shall not, in any circumstances, take the Bill on Thursday next.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYNo, Sir.
§ SIR J. FERGUSSON (Manchester, N.E.)Do we understand that the Dogs Bill will not be taken to-night?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI am sorry to say my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Agriculture is prevented by indisposition from being in his place this evening, and under this circumstance the Bill will not be proceeded with to-night.
§ MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that the Merchant Shipping Bill shall not be taken before 11 to-night?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI should be sorry to give the hon. Member the pledge he asks for, as it might lead to the waste of an hour of valuable time.