§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I wish to ask the First Lord a question as to the making up of the Notice Paper under the new Rules. It will be generally agreed that it would be greatly to the convenience of hon. Members if the intentions of the Government with regard to the afternoon and evening sittings were always set forth on the Notice Paper. Looking at the Paper today it will be seen the first Order for the evening sitting is the Patent Law Amendment Bill. Cannot the Paper be so drawn as to show the business the Government intend to take? This is important in view of the statement of the right hon. Gentleman the other night that these broken sittings would occasionally enable the Government to bring on business of secondary importance.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI will consider whether the hon. Gentleman's suggestion can be carried out. I entirely agree that it is for the convenience of hon. Members that they should know as clearly as possible what will be taken at the evening sitting, but of course it will be impossible for the Government to bind themselves, because what happens at the evening sitting may depend in many cases on what happens at the morning sitting. But I understand that the hon. Gentleman is prepared to accept a notice indicating that there is some doubt 637 about the matter, and I will see whether something of the nature suggested can not be adopted.
§ MR. DILLONThe Orders of the Day at the evening sitting are preceded now on the Order Paper by the heading "Subject to alterations consequent on the afternoon sitting." Cannot the right hon. Gentleman retain that heading?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, some such plan might be adopted. I will consider the matter.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)There is the chance of private Bill business having to be taken at the evening sitting.
§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)May I ask whether, when an alteration is going to be made in the business for the evening, it will be incumbent on the Government to state it at the rising of the House at half-past seven.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, with the permission of Mr. Speaker, that certainly will be done.
§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask whether the Second Reading stage of the Education Bill will end at the conclusion of the afternoon or of the evening sitting on Thursday.
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURThat, of course, is a question I am unable to answer. I think it will probably be found that by half-past seven on Thursday there has been sufficient time for discussion.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURUnder an Order passed by the House some time ago, whenever the Rules are put down they must stand first on the Paper. I intend today to postpone them will the 14th of this month.