§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt may be for the convenience of the House that I should give notice that at the very earliest opportunity I shall move, as a sessional order, the Friday Supply Rule, and also move to amend Standing Order 51 by omitting the words "Ways and Means." I am afraid that I shall also have to ask the House to give the Government special facilities for Supply before Easter. The amount of work we have got to get through in order to carry out the law before Easter is very considerable. Very important subjects of debate must arise, and I confess, though I have no other complaint to make, that I view the prolongation of the debate on the Address. with some alarm, simply from the fact that the discussion on the Estimates must be got through by a certain fixed date; and every day on which we maintain the general discussion going on for the last week makes it rather more difficult for us without putting ourselves to considerable inconvenience in getting through the necessary work.
§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to 1061 take Committee of Supply early this week?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes.
§ MR. LOUGHWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether he will consider the advisability of setting apart Tuesdays instead of Fridays to Supply, or whether he will not take an opportunity of consulting the House on the point?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat is a question which I have considered already, and I must admit that, on the whole, I do not think the general opinion of the House is in favour of it.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will give fair notice of the proposed innovation of the abolition of the opportunity for moving Amendments on the Speaker leaving the chair when the House goes into Committee of Ways and Means?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI can give the hon. Gentleman the information he asks for now. It is simply after Standing Order 51 to leave out the words "or Ways and Means."
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat depends upon the length of time the House desires to discuss the Speech from the Throne.
§ MR. M'KENNA (Monmouthshire, N.)Can the right hon. Gentleman say if he proposes to move the suspension of the Twelve o'clock Rule to-morrow?
§ MR. COGHILL (Stoke-upon-Trent)And whether before he moves his motion he will be prepared to muzzle Members of the House of Commons?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo: I do not propose to move the suspension of the Twelve o'clock Rule to-morrow.
§ MR. DILLONI appeal to the right hon. Gentleman not to deprive me of the opportunity of moving the Amendment I have on the Paper.
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order ! Questions as to the time at which the Government will move the closure are irregular. They are practically debating the question.