HC Deb 07 July 1899 vol 74 cc187-8
SIR CHARLES CAMERON (Glasgow, Bridgeton)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury when it is proposed to resume consideration of the Scottish Votes in Committee of Supply.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I cannot at present make any statement about Supply. I have promised, as regards next Friday to give an answer to the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition, but I can say no more at present.

MR. DILLON

May I ask with reference to the motion for devoting three additional days to Supply, whether the Government will give one of those days to the consideration of the Irish Votes.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have nothing to add to what I said yesterday with regard to Irish Supply. Three days have already been devoted to it, and I am not in a position to say at present that it will be possible to give more time to it. I shall have to see how the number of allotted days works out divided among the various competitors for time.

ADMIRAL FIELD

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Shipbuilding and Admiralty Votes will be taken.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No, Sir.

MR. WEIR

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will give three days to the Scotch Estimates, and whether he is aware that during the last two or three years many of the Scotch Votes have not been discussed at all.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I should always regret that the hon. Member had not full opportunity of expressing his views.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Scotland)

Can the right hon. Gentleman see his way to give more than one day to the discussion of the Home Office Vote. There were a great many subjects to be raised, one of them being vivisection.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I believe that there was a discussion last year on the subject to which the hon. Member refers, but he will agree that my difficulties are considerable. The hon. Gentleman next to him wants another day for Irish Supply; the hon. Gentleman himself wants another day for the Home Office Vote; my hon. and Gallant Friend wants a day for the Admiralty Vote; and the hon. Member for Ross wishes three days to be given to Scotch Votes.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

There was no discussion of vivisection last year on the Estimates. I raised the question on the Appropriation Bill, and, quite rightly, I was called to order by the Speaker three times in five minutes.