HC Deb 20 February 1900 vol 79 cc593-5
MR. D. A. THOMAS () Merthyr Tydvil

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in the event of any opposition being raised to the Consolidated Fund Bill, which is down as first Order, he will seriously proceed with it. If he does—(the hon. Member shrugged his shoulders and resumed his seat.)

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not understand the hon. Member.

MR. D. A. THOMAS

If so I shall consider the action of the right hon. Gentleman a most serious breach of his engagement that time would be given for the discussion of the motion on the Jameson raid.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not think the hon. Gentleman understands the words he is using. I gave the House on more than one occasion to understand that, if it should be felt necessary to raise a debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill, it would be necessary for the convenience of public business to take a morning sitting on Tuesday. If that were done the hon. Gentleman would not have been able to bring on his motion before nine o'clock, and, as I do not apprehend there will be permitted any long discussion on this Bill, I do not think putting it down as the first Order will seriously inconvenience the hon. Gentleman.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL () Donegal, S.

Who is to "permit" the discussion?

MR. CALDWELL () Lanarkshire, Mid

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not necessary under the Act that Ways and Means should be passed at once? The words are—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. Member is now giving a lecture on procedure.

MR. HEDDERWICK () Wick Burghs

When will the Companies Bill be taken?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am afraid I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the information at the present moment.

SIR HENRY CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN () Stirling Burghs

What will the business be on Thursday and Friday next?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

On Thursday the Civil Service Supplementary Estimates will be taken, and I hope the Vote on Account will be ready to be taken on Friday.

MR. CALDWELL

When will the Third Reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill be taken?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Thursday.

MR. CALDWELL

Will it be the first Order?

Mr. A. J. BALFOUR

Probably it will, but I cannot say definitely.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Without entering into any controversy as to whether the right hon. Gentleman is justified in taking the Consolidated Fund Bill as the first Order, although I have my own view upon the matter, I desire to say that inasmuch as the Irish Members are interested in the debate which is coming on, they will not stand in the way by raising a discussion on the Second Reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill. They will content themselves by taking a division.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

With reference to the right hon. Gentleman's statement that it is inconvenient to discuss the relations, of the Treasury with other Government Departments, may I ask if he proposes to take from me the Tuesday I have obtained for that discussion?

[No answer was given.]