HC Deb 02 May 1902 vol 107 cc594-6

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn"—(Mr. A. J. Balfour.)

MR. CHAPLIN

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman a Question with regard to one of the remaining Orders which has only been partially dealt with. I refer to the Rule relating to "order in debate," which has been partially amended and left in a most anomalous condition. I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman when he proposes to go on with this Rule. It is undoubtedly a Rule of the first importance, and I hope the First Lord of the Treasury will be able to tell us that the Government intend to persevere with this Rule, and do their best to pass it before the end of the session.

MR. DILLON

Can the right hon. Gentleman also inform the House what the course of business will be next week? Will the debate on the Second Reading of the Education Bill be continued until it is finished?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I rather hope that three days will be sufficient for the debate on the Education Bill, but if my hopes are disappointed I shall have to ask the House to continue the debate on Thursday evening.

MR. BRYCE

From such information as reaches us, I think it will be impossible to finish the debate on the Second Reading of the Education Bill before Thursday, having regard to the fact that only half of Wednesday's sitting will be at the disposal of the Government. I do not think there will be any possibility of the debate ending on Wednesday.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The right hon. Gentleman the Member for Sleaford has asked me a Question about one of these Rules. In the present condition of public business I cannot suggest any time in which it will be possible to go on with these Rules; but I have every reason to believe that the House will be able to finish them before the end of the session.

MR. CHAPLIN

That is the intention of the Government?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Certainly.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Out of twenty-four proposals only twelve have yet been passed. Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply apply to all the remaining twelve 1

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I confined my reply to the Question which was addressed to me. I cannot say anything further.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

Shall we be supplied with copies of these new Orders, so that we shall know where we are?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Yes.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER

Shall we have an official record of how our Rules stand? I have gone through the records at the Vote Office, and I find one Paper contradicts another, and none of them appear consistent with the Blue Paper originally laid on the Table. To avoid mistakes, I hope my right hon. friend will have a true record of all the Rules circulated.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

There is no ambiguity about them, and no contradictions. The House has now dealt with a certain number of propositions which have now become sessional Orders.

MR. BRYCE

Perhaps I may ask the right hon. Gentleman a question which arises out of a matter he referred to either yesterday or on Tuesday. As this may be the last opportunity of enabling the right hon. Gentleman to make a statement upon this point, I wish to ask when he proposes to appoint the Committee he has promised to inquire into the conduct of private business? I think hon. Members generally feel that we have left private business in a very unsatisfactory state, and I should like to know if the right hon. Gentleman contemplates appointing that Committee this session.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Yes, at a very early date, I hope.

House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock till Monday-next.