HC Deb 23 January 1902 vol 101 cc696-7
MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if it will be necessary to submit any Supplementary Estimates for the consideration of the House before the close of the present financial year, and, if so, can he state when they will be taken.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No doubt there will be Supplementary Estimates this year, but I cannot state at the present moment when they will be taken.

MR. M'CRAE

Will the Supplementary Estimates be taken before or after the new Rules of Procedure are introduced?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I cannot make any statement of that sort. I do not know when the debate on the Address will be finished, and until I have some knowledge on that point I can hardly lay down a plan even for the immediate future of the session. I shall endeavour, within the limits of public convenience, to follow the course which has been pursued in previous sessions, and as much as possible have debates in Supply on Fridays.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I ask the right hon. Gentleman, with reference to this matter, whether he will take care that the House has time to consider the proposed new Rules of Procedure as well as the Supplementary Estimates, before they are moved in the House.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I shall, of course, endeavour to meet the wishes of the House in that respect. I should imagine that I should make a general statement as to the scope and character of the proposals we are to lay before the House with regard to Procedure, and that after that statement a certain interval should be allowed before we proceed to discuss the Rules one by one.

MR. LOUGH

Will an opportunity be given after the interval for a sort of Second Reading debate, in which the whole scope of the Rules might be considered?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I rather think it will be unnecessary, but I will consider the question. I am aware that hon. Gentlemen have an absolute right to discuss a matter which so closely affects them, but I cannot give a final answer now.

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)

Will the right hon. Gentleman make a Motion when he makes his general statement?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said he thought all Questions of this kind had better be put on the Paper. He would then give them careful consideration.