HC Deb 09 May 1899 vol 71 cc157-8
MR. MACLEAN (Cardiff)

I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury a question of which I have given private notice—whether, in view of the disclosures in the Blue-book as to the real source and origin of the Indian Sugar duties, he will agree to fix a day for the discussion of this subject.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

If I am to interpret the question of my hon. friend by the letter he has sent to me indicating his desire, I may say he has fallen into an error in the interpretation he puts upon the Blue-book; but without dwelling on that point, I must say at this time of the year especially public time is extremely valuable, and unless there is a demand which the Government could not ignore from the authorised leaders of the Opposition, I do not think it would be possible to find the time my hon. friend, and I may say the Government themselves, desire to give to the discussion of this interesting subject.

SIR H. H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)

To clear the atmosphere, I may say that it is my intention to give notice to move an Address praying her Majesty to be pleased to disallow the Indian Tariff Amendment Act, 1899.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)

And in order to complete the right hon. Gentleman's satisfaction, I beg to ask him if he will give a day for the discussion of my right hon. friend's motion?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Of course, I shall be very glad to give a day. The actual day perhaps had better be a matter for mutual arrangement.

SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)

As this is the subject of a motion down for Tuesday next, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake not to take that day away?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have promised a day for something practically equivalent to a vote of censure on the Government to the right hon. Gentleman opposite, and under the circumstances I do not think we should have a preliminary canter on a subject nearly the same.