§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will consider the expediency of shortening the Easter Recess, in view of the pressure it will put on the House in the closing months of the session; and whether he will consider the advisability of utilising any spare time that may be available either at the Whitsuntide Recess or by an earlier adjournment in the autumn.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.The question of the expediency of shortening the Easter Recess in view of the pressure put on the House in the closing months of the session does not seem to be very popular. If the holidays were diminished at the Easter end, it would mean sitting on the Thursday before Good Friday, which would be a very inconvenient day. I do not think that would be for the general benefit of the House. On the other hand, if the holidays were diminished at the Whitsuntide end, that would mean the cutting off of three days—namely, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday—in order to get one Government day, and I hardly see how that would materially shorten the session, at the end of which Government business is usually congested.
§ MR. SAMUEL SMITHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many Members of the House would prefer to have a longer holiday at Whitsuntide than at Easter?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI doubt if it would be felt generally convenient to sacrifice three days in order to secure an additional day for the Government.
§ *SIR CHARLES DILKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the general interest felt in the first Order of the day for Wednesday, 17th April—the Bill of the hon. Member for Derby affecting employment in coal mines, as to which there is a possibility of some agreement?
§ MR. HERBERT LEWISI would also call attention to the second Order for the Tuesday.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no doubt that great interest is taken in every Order, but that does not touch the question put to me by the hon. Member for Flintshire.