§ DR. FARQUHARSONI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he intends to resume the debate on the Procedure Rules before Easter; and whether, more especially for the information of North Country Members, he can state the probable date and duration of the Easter recess.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have very little hopes of being able to make substantial progress with the Rules of Procedure before the Easter holidays begin. I am afraid I cannot give any specific assurance to the hon. Gentleman as to the precise date when that will occur.
§ DR. FARQUHARSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the probable date of the Easter recess has already appeared in The Times.?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Gentleman asked me, not for the probable date, but the actual date. I could give him the probable date, possibly.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman what course he proposes to take with regard to the Motion on the Paper for suspending the Twelve o'clock Rule. As far as I am aware, there is no disposition to prolong the debate beyond the usual time.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAs the House is aware, I only put down the Motion as a matter of precaution, not having been able to communicate with the Gentlemen with whom these matters are usually arranged. As I understand that there is no desire to prolong the proceedings on the various Reports down on the Paper after twelve o'clock, on that understanding I will not move to suspend the Twelve o'clock Rule. Of course, it is understood that the discussion on the Consolidated Fund Bill will be on the Third Reading, which will be the first Order of the day on which it is put down.