§ SIR H. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)I desire to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he has any information to give as to the business of the week.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWe propose to finish the Report stage of the Finance Bill to-night, and to take the Report stage of the Licensing Bill to-morrow and Wednesday. On Thursday we shall take the Third Reading of the Finance Bill, and on Friday the Third Reading of the Licensing Bill.
§ MR. BUCHANAN (Perthshire, E.)Is there any legal obligation to press forward the Finance Bill?
† See (4) Debates, cxxxvi., 1010.1066
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURConsidering that the taxes lapse on August 1st, it will be admitted that it would be highly inconvenient if the Finance Bill were not passed before that date.
§ MR. BUCHANANBut in 1896, when there was a Unionist Government in office, the Finance Bill did not pass until 7th August.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not carry in my mind the circumstances of the taxes of that year, but if the hon. Gentleman will put a Question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer I do not doubt that he will get a satisfactory Answer.