§ MR. D. A. THOMASI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can now state what he proposes shall be the course of business in the House immediately after the debate on the Address in reply to the Gracious Speech from the Throne is concluded.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe first business of substance after the Address is concluded will be the introduction by my hon. friend the Under Secretary for War of supplementary Army Estimates connected with the war, and in introducing those estimates he will make the statement so anxiously expected both by the 728 House and the country upon the questions of home defence, which are agitating, or at all events deeply interesting, the public mind at the present moment. I shall probably have to ask the House, before entering upon that business, to pass the ordinary sessional rule with regard to Supply, and I shall also have to ask them to give the Government facilities, with regard to financial business alone, in order that we may get through our necessary financial work before 31st March.
§ MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)Is it intended to take Tuesdays up to 31st March?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWe shall have to ask facilities with regard to Tuesdays, but there is one Tuesday which I notice it is intended should be devoted to a motion connected with an inquiry into the raid. My right hon. friend the Secretary for the Colonies yesterday declined to deal with that subject in his speech, saying that he would reserve what he had to say for that motion to be brought forward. Under those circumstances it would be highly improper that the Government should impose any obstacle in the way of that motion being considered. I ought, however, to guard myself by saying that it may be necessary—it depends on the state of our financial work—to take a morning sitting on that Tuesday.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo.