HC Deb 26 February 1900 vol 79 cc1110-1
*MR. JAMES LOWTHER () Kent, Thanet

I wish to ask a question with regard to No. 5 of the Orders of the Day. Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to proceed with that to-night, in view of the fact that it covers the Vote on which is raised the question of the Cromwell statue.

MR. WEIR

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers, I wish to inquire if he is aware that only 21 Votes out of 138 had been discussed when he moved the closure on Friday. What opportunity does he intend to give us for discussing the remainder of the Votes?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

It has, I believe, been the practice of the House to take the Vote on Account in the course of a single evening. In answer to my right hon. friend, I may say that there is a Report down for to-night earlier than the one to which he refers. I do not propose to ask the House to sit to an * See page 374 of this volume. undue hour, but should the Report to which I have alluded be disposed of without debate, I should hope then to be allowed to get the other Report. But, under any circumstances, I should not ask the House to take it after half-past twelve.

*MR. JAMES LOWTHER

The matter to which I alluded is the erection of a statue within the precincts, in defiance of the decisions of both Houses, a subject in which great interest is taken, and it would no doubt l) e for the general convenience if my right hon. friend would name a time after which he will not take the Report.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I may point out to my right hon. friend that we had three or four hours discussion on this matter at a most convenient period on Friday last, and under these circumstances I think he is unreasonable in asking us to give an early hour for the discussion of the Report stage of a Vote which has already been taken after full debate.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

It would be of great convenience to the Irish Members if the First Lord of the Treasury could state approximately when he proposes to move the House into Committee of Supply on the Civil Service Estimates. He has been kind enough to promise us a certain amount of notice, but can he assure us that it will not be done before the 20th March? Further I would like to ask him when he proposes to take the Budget. Will it be before Easter?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I certainly hope the Budget will be taken before Easter. As regards the other question of the hon. Member, I am unwilling to pledge myself without notice. I should like to see what progress we make with our financial business and to ascertain exactly what our financial necessities are. I would therefore suggest that he put his question again to-morrow or Thursday, and then I will endeavour to answer him.