§ MR. TALBOT (Oxford University)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can give the assurance that an opportunity will be given for considering the Vote for the Local Government Board in Committee of Supply.
§ LORD HUGH CECILI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will state when the Local Government Board Vote will be taken.
§ * SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, forest of Dean)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can give the House long notice of the day on which the Supplementary Vote for the war in South Africa will be proposed.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will state the business for next Monday?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI propose to put down the Local Government Board Vote and the Board of Trade Vote on the two remaining allotted days for Supply. I cannot put them first, and whether they will be reached depends on what view the House takes of the relative importance of the questions that arise. The Army Votes are down, but they will not be put first. As to the Supplementary Vote for the war in South Africa, I hope that it will be taken to-morrow week. I am unable to give an absolutely certain answer, because my scheme has been upset by the uncertainty as to whether the Papers promised by the Colonial Secretary will be in the hands of hon. Members by Tuesday, on which day I had proposed to take the Colonial Vote. I have put down the Foreign Office Vote second. That, I think, will be a convenient arrangement, but it cannot be maintained if the promised Papers are not in the hands of hon. Members. I will defer a statement on that point until my right hon. friend can inform me on the question. On Monday the Government will take the Military Bills. I am not certain whether the Companies Bill will be down from the Grand Committee, but whether or not that is the case, I think it would be rather short notice for the Bill to be taken. The Military Lands Bill will be taken first, and afterwards the other Military Bills 486 which were advanced a stage yesterday. T hope to put down the Naval Reserve Bill on the same day.
§ * SIR CHARLES DILKEWhat is the alternative business for Tuesday?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have not had time to consider that.
§ MR. WARNER (Staffordshire, Lichfield)Will another day be given to Army Votes?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo; they have already been discussed. I cannot put them down as first Order.
§ MR. FLAVINI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can state approximately the amount of money to be asked for in the Supplementary Estimate in connection with the war in South Africa; and also approximately what portion of the estimated gross cost of the war in South Africa will Ireland have to contribute.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am not yet in a position to state what is the amount of the Estimate.
§ MR. FLAVINI will put the question again Tomorrow.