§ MR. DILLONI wish to put a question so that we may be quite clear as to the Procedure Resolution which the First Lord is going to move to-day. I understood he was to move a Resolution to the effect that the House now proceed to consider the new rules. But the only Motion on the Paper is one taking the time of the House and giving the rules precedence. Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly explain how he pro- 1348 poses to proceed, in view of the understanding come to that there should be a Second Reading debate next week, and that there should be no discussion immediately after he had made his statement.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am glad the hon. Gentleman has put the Question. I think I ought to apologise to the House for not having yesterday, at the conclusion of business, explained that there will be a change in form, unaccompanied by any change in substance, with regard to the procedure. After consulting the highest authorities in the House, I came to the conclusion that it would be more convenient if I were to make my statement by leave of the House, and then, on the first Motion with regard to the Rules, we could have what is called a Second Reading debate. That is the course which has usually been followed. It is in itself, I know, an irregular and illogical proceeding. But there are precedents for it, and on the whole it seems to those best qualified to speak a more convenient method of proceeding than the one originally suggested. I shall make my statement to-day, and next week we shall proceed with the Second Reading discussion.
§ MR. DILLONIs it clearly understood that the House will have the same rights under this procedure as it would have had under the procedure which the right hon. Gentleman announced to us two days ago? In the case of a Second Reading debate on the first Resolution, it might be held that the discussion could not go beyond that particular Resolution.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)I do not know how far the right hon. Gentleman's method of procedure meets this case. Suppose there is a desire, on what we are calling the Second Reading debate, to move an Amendment, not rejecting the whole scheme, and still less rejecting the first proposal of the Government, but a general Amendment expressing a certain judgment of the House, how can it be done?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI will consider that point. It is one well worth attention. 1349 I may, however, again state that in taking the discussion upon the first rule, or rather the first Amendment—and it will be an almost verbal Amendment—it will be possible by common consent for the debate to range over the whole area of the proposed new rules. In doing so we shall be exactly following precedent. I do not remember whether in the case of Mr. Gladstone or Mr. W. H. Smith, when they brought forward their proposals, there was any idea of moving a general Amendment.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANWould it not be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to make some general Motion such as "That the House do now take the rules into consideration," or some similar form of words? I may suggest one thing that occurs to me, viz., that there may be Members in the House who, having heard what the right hon. Gentleman proposes, may think the plan to be of so extensive a nature that it ought to be considered by a Committee.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think that point, too, is worth very serious consideration, and I will undertake to consider it, with a view, of course, to meeting the general convenience of the House. The plan proposed by the right hon. Gentleman originally occurred to myself, and I sketched it out to the House, but there seemed to be some objection, and I therefore substituted for it a plan which has undoubtedly the merit of being more strictly in accordance with precedent.
§ MR. DILLONOf course, we all trust the right hon. Gentleman not to adopt any course that would leave us less rights than we would have enjoyed under his original plan.
§ MR. BROADHURST (Leicester)Can the right hon. Gentleman say what will be the business for Monday?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI propose to take to-day the right to put down the rules on any day except Wednesdays, and it may be convenient that I should defer any statement with regard to the course of business until such time as I move my resolution, taking the time of the House.