§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in proposing to suspend the Twelve o'clock Rule tonight, he intends to provide that the subject under discussion, which is approaching its completion, shall not be interrupted by the Twelve o'clock Rule, or whether he intends at this period of the session to invite the House to what would be practically, or approaching to, an all night sitting.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not know that the two alternatives which the right hon. Gentleman suggests are the only alternatives. My view is that we really ought to finish this block of Rules by Thursday, and I cannot think that any hon. Gentleman who has followed the course of these debates attentively will think I am making any excessive demands on the House when I lay down that proposition. I hope we shall make very substantial progress towards that end tonight, and I trust there will be no necessity for an all-night sitting.
§ MR. CHAPLIN (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)I desire to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will tell the House what order is to be observed after the Rule now under discussion is disposed of. Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to proceed with the second Order of the day; or, if not, in what order does he propose to take the other Rules? I want further to ask, supposing his forecast to be realised—which seems to me to be almost impossible, or extremely unlikely—what business it is proposed to take on Friday, which will be a private Members' night.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURReally, the right hon. Gentleman's Question is a very extraordinary one, for more than one reason. In the first place, I told the House yesterday the order in which I propose to take the Rules, and, in addition, the Speaker also gave an explanation of the Order Paper in the clearest manner. I have not at all departed from the statement I then made. My right hon. friend has expressed his view as to the extreme improbability that this block of Rules will be got through in two nights. I am sure that if my right hon. friend will second the Government in their efforts, there will not be the smallest difficulty in attaining that object. [Opposition laughter.] As to the business on Friday, if my hopes are fulfilled, it is true that under those circumstances Friday will be a morning sitting and a private Members' day, and private Members will have two Wednesdays in one week—an unusual and exceptional privilege. There is private Members' business down for Friday, and I presume, if it is not set aside, it will be taken.
§ MR. CHAPLINMay I be allowed to say, in respect of the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, that it may have been due to defective hearing on my part, but I certainly was unable yesterday to catch the order in which this block of Rules was to be taken, and the papers do not give it in any of the reports which I have carefully examined this morning.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI read it out twice.
§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)What does the right hon. Gentleman intend to do with regard to the shifting of Tuesdays' Motions to Wednesdays, and Wednesdays' Bills to Fridays?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think there will have to be a Resolution upon the subject, and, although I will not pledge myself, I will endeavour to take it on Thursday, as it is really part of the policy of the block of Rules.
§ MR. BRYCEWill the business that stands for May 2nd, beginning "Ice Cream Shops (Scotland) Bill, Second Reading," be the business for Friday?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt really is not for me to make any declaration on that point, as the Government only has control over the order of business on Government nights. But I should rather forecast that the important Bill which the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned will have the happy position of precedence.