HC Deb 21 July 1904 vol 138 cc787-8
SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can state the business for Friday and for next week.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

To-morrow I propose to take the Report of the Finance Bill, and when that is concluded to take the Report of the Licensing Bill. That means I shall take that stage of these two Bills continuously.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

The Report of the Licensing Bill will have, of course, a complete day, and not a half-day?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Certainly.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Army Vote in Committee of Supply will be again taken.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am afraid it will not be possible to take Supply at all next week. It is very important to finish the Licensing Bill, so that it may go to another place in time for proper discussion and to allow the House to consider whatever changes may be made in the measure in another place. The Finance Bill must also be passed within a certain date. Those two considerations preclude the possibility of Supply being, taken in the ordinary course next Thursday. In saying that I am going on the hypothesis that the House will he unwilling to pass the Report stage of the Finance Bill in the course of to-morrow's sitting. I rather gather that will be the ease; if not. I could, of course, devote Thursday next week to Supply.