§ MR. STUART-WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the public attention drawn by recent events to the subject of Imperial Telegraphic Communication, he will place the Vote for annual subsidies to cable companies first on an early Friday afternoon.
§ *SIR CHARLES DILKEI beg at the same time to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can arrange for taking the Vote for telegraph subsidies first on an early Friday.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf I find there is any general desire to discuss this Vote I shall, of course, endeavour to put it down at some convenient time. But we have not yet moved the Speaker out of the Chair in Civil Service Supply, and it is consequently premature to fix any particular time for this discussion.
§ *SIR CHARLES DILKEI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Factories and Workshops Bill is likely to be taken before Easter.
§ SIR T. G. ESMONDEWhat business will be taken next week?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have received appeals from important quarters of the 200 House that the Factories and Workshops Bill should not be taken before Easter. In these circumstances I do not propose to take the Bill before Easter. Monday will be occupied by the Committee on the Finance Bill. I do not know how long that stage will last, but if it is not concluded on Monday it will be taken on Tuesday. I cannot reasonably doubt that Monday and Tuesday will be sufficient to see the Bill through. On Thursday I shall propose to take, after the London Water Bills are disposed of, the Municipal Trading Committee, which I think ought to be appointed without undue delay. The delay which has already occurred has caused considerable inconvenience in many quarters. The next measure will be the Railways (Prevention of Accidents) Bill, which my right hon. friend very nearly got through last night, and there ought to be no difficulty in taking the Second Reading on Thursday. The other Bills will be small, but not of a controversial character.
§ MR. STEADMANWhen will the Housing of the Working Classes Bill be taken? Can two or three days notice be given?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI will endeavour to give what notice I can—two days notice, at all events. I hope to be able to take the Bill before Easter, but I cannot give any promise.