Sir H. CAMPBELL BANNERMANI have to put to the First Lord of the Treasury the usual question as to the business of the House for next week.
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOUROn Monday I propose to take, as is usual at this time of the year, a motion for the time of the House, except Wednesday, the 20th inst., and Wednesday, the 27th inst., which will be reserved, according to usage, for the later stages of Private Bills which have already passed the Second Reading stage. After that has been disposed of I propose to take the Committee stage of the Australian Commonwealth Bill, and the three subsequent Orders will be the Railways (Prevention of Accidents) Bill, the Land Charges Bill, and the Burial Grounds Bill. On Tuesday I shall ask the House to consider Army Estimates in Supply, in order to provide funds necessary for carrying on the war in South Africa. On Thursday I propose to take the Ecclesiastical Assessments (Scotland) Bill first. Information as to subsequent Orders I will give on a later day.
§ General LAURIE (Pembroke and Haverfordwest)Are all the outstanding Army Votes to be brought on on Tuesday, or will some be deferred to enable a later discussion on the Army Estimates?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURThe Army Votes which will be taken first on Tuesday are Nos. 6 and 7. In no case do I propose to take the whole of the Army Votes, because that would remove from the House the possibility of discussing questions of military policy in Supply before the end of the session, which I think would be an inconvenient course.
§ *Sir CHARLES DILKEAre we to understand that there will be a Supplementary Estimate presented on Tuesday?
§ Mr. WYNDHAMAs far as I know there is no probability of our requiring an additional Estimate for the war.
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURWhat I meant to convey was that it was the war in South Africa that rendered it necessary for us to get money at once.
§ Mr. D. A. THOMASWill the right ton. Gentleman reconsider his decision with regard to taking private Members' time, so as to except Tuesday week, when I have down a resolution regarding our national coal supply?
Mr. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)And there is also one affecting the Incorporated Law Society. Do the Government propose to take the Savings Banks Bill to-night?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURNot to-night.
§ Mr. LOUGH (Islington, W.)Will any business except Supply be taken on the allotted days?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURNo Government business other than Supply is taken on allotted days.
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWIS (Flint Boroughs)What Votes in Supply will be taken to-morrow? Will the right hon. Gentleman postpone those referring to the Woods and Forests Office and the Public Record Office, in which some Welsh Members are interested?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURAfter the Education Estimates are disposed of we shall proceed with Class 2. I shall be 20 pleased to postpone the two Votes referred to.