§ Mr. LOUGH (Islington, W.)May I ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will not take Vote A of the Army Estimates before Thursday, considering the importance of the statement made by the Secretary for War?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)Can the right hon. Gentleman state when he proposes to take the Report stage of the Vote on Account, and if any time will be permitted for its discussion?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURIn answer to the lion. Member for West Islington, I must say that I do not quite follow the argument involved in his question. There has been an interval since Friday night which has enabled the blouse and 1178 the country to consider the important statement of my right hon. friend. I hope, therefore, we shall proceed with the discussion as rapidly as possible. As regards the question of the hon. Member for South Tyrone, there are Army and Navy subjects of the first importance requiring to be discussed, and I, therefore, do not, at present, see any opportunity of taking the Report stage of the Vote on Account.
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThen it will not be taken to-night?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURNo.
§ Sir H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)With regard to the discussion on the Army Estimates, will the right hon. Gentleman not agree to postpone getting the Speaker out of the Chair until to-morrow, at least, in order that we may have time for the full discussion of the statement? Let me point out—[Cries of "Order!"]—well, perhaps I. had better put it in an interrogative form in order to keep in order. Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the fact which is present to our minds that there are two aspects of this question, the aspect of general policy and that of detailed policy? Could we not have the general policy discussed before Mr. Speaker leaves the Chair, so as to leave us free for the consideration of details afterwards?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf that were the general understanding on both sides of the House. I am of opinion that it would be a very convenient arrangement to abstain altogether from discussing details at this stage, and to deal with nothing but details al the later stage. I do not propose, however, to try to get Mr. Speaker out of the Chair until to-morrow, in any case.
§ Sir JAMES JOICEY (Durham, Chester-le-Street)May I ask whether, considering the importance of the statement made by the Secretary for War, the right hon. Gentleman will, for the convenience of the House, have the speech printed and circulated?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURThat has never been done, and I hope it never will be.
§ Sir H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI wish to prevent any possibility of mistake, but does not the right hon. Gentleman go a little too far when he says that at the later stage we are to speak on nothing but details?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOUROf course, I mean as far as possible.
§ Sir H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI hope there will be no misunderstanding. The right hon. Gentleman has no objection, I take it, to our discussing the Army Estimates to-night with Mr. Speaker in the Chair, it being understood the debate is not to be concluded to-night?
§ Sir JAMES JOICEYThere is a precedent for what I asked the right hon. Gentleman. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has printed and circulated his statement before now?
§ Mr. A.. J. BALFOURI thought the lion. Member for Chester-le-Street wanted the speech of my right hon. friend the Secretary for War laid as a Parliamentary paper in the same way as, I believe, in France, speeches which meet with the general favour in the French Chamber are printed and circulated. I do not think that that would be a happy precedent to set. With regard to the business for Thursday, that, of course, depends on the progress made with the Army Estimates. Personally, I anticipate that the discussion on those Estimates will continue on Thursday.
§ Sir JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)When are the Navy Estimates likely to be taken?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURI am afraid I cannot tell my hon. and gallant friend.
§ Mr. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)With reference to the course of business, I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman a question. He is probably aware that notice has been given of a motion of a very important character on the question that Mr. Speaker leave the Chair on going into Committee of Supply on the 1180 Civil Service Estimates. Can he give us any idea when he proposes to move the Speaker out of the Chair on those Estimates? It will be essential to the convenience of a large number of Members interested that we should have adequate notice. Last year in a similar case the right hon. Gentleman was good enough to give us a week's notice.
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURI will do my very best to give notice. But I do not anticipate that, in any case, we shall propose to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on the Civil Service Estimates before the 25th March.
§ Mr. JOHN REDMONDWill it be before Easter?
§ Me. A. J. BALFOURIt will be more convenient to get it done before Easter, but I cannot promise.
§ Mk. TULLYI have an Amendment on the Report of Supply closured last Tuesday. If it is not to be taken tonight, can the right hon. Gentleman say when it will be taken?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURI can only say it will not be taken to-night.
§ Mr. COURTENAY WARNER (Staffordshire, Lichfield)Arising out of the discussion as to the way in which the Army Estimates are to be taken, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, when a similar arrangement was made on a former occasion, the Chairman of Committees ruled out of order any debate on details, because some of them had been mentioned in the discussion with Mr. Speaker in the Chair?
§ [No answer was given.]
§ Mr. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say-when he proposes to take the Civil Service Supplementary Estimates?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURAs soon as I get an opportunity.