HC Deb 13 February 1902 vol 102 cc1270-1
SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the consent of the Crown has been found necessary and has been obtained for the creation of the new office of Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means, empowered to act, on occasion, as Deputy Speaker; and when, and by what form, the new appointment will be made.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Yes; the consent of the Crown has been obtained. The appointment will be made in the same form as that of the Chairman of Committees.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to communicate the assent of the Crown to the House?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have just communicated it.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

That is not a proper way of doing it.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

The appointment, I understand, will be by Motion. That is the practice usually followed in regard to the Chairman himself.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Yes, Sir.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

When will the appointment be made?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

It will be made, as is usual, the first time we go into Committee of Supply, which is tomorrow.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Will there be a salary attached to the office?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

In the course of the debate which we had the other night on this subject, I pointed out that the establishment of a new paid office, although it might be extremely desirable, is a step to be taken with caution, and we ought to have the Report of a Committee of this House on the subject before we take that step.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Whom does the Government contemplate moving into the chair?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That does not arise out of the Question on the Paper.