§ MR. BROADHURST (Leicester)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will endeavour to so re-arrange the time for the meeting of parliament that the House shall not sit in the months of July and August.
§ THE FIEST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.The question that the hon. Gentleman asks is not a new one. It was discussed inn the House in, I think, 1890, 1174 when Sir George Trevelyan moved a resolution in the sense of the hon. Member's question. It was opposed by Lord Tweedmouth and the Government of the day, and lost by a small majority. I confess that I do not see how any such plan can be carried out, unless we were also to change our financial year. The financial year does not begin until March 31st, and I do not think it would be possible to get through the business of Supply by the beginning of July. It would also involve an autumn session. I have no reason to believe that these two changes find general acceptance, and if they do not find general acceptance I am afraid the change suggested by the hon. Gentleman can hardly be carried out.