HC Deb 23 June 1904 vol 136 cc1011-3
MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

asked what business would be taken on Friday and Monday.

MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)

asked whether it was intended to defer further consideration of the Scotch Education Bill until the Licensing Bill was finished. He also asked when it was proposed that the Secretary for War should make his promised statement. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would allow him to observe that the session was advancing, and it would become important before long to have a discussion on the Army Estimates, for which the statement was necessary.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I differ from the right hon. Gentleman's last statement; the views of my right hon. friend do not affect the Army Estimates for the current year.

MR. BRYCE

Surely we cannot properly discuss the Estimates without knowing what the proposals for altering the existing conditions in the Army are.

MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (Oldham)

asked was it not a fact that Estimates had been passed on the understanding, given by the Secretary for War, that he had a plan he intended to announce?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am not aware that he could do that. But the Estimates for the year deal with the necessary Army expenditure, and that estimated expenditure cannot be affected for good or for evil by a plan for Army reform which cannot come into operation until after the period dealt with by the Estimates. Therefore, though it might be very convenient to raise the question on the Estimates, it is not necessary for the discussion of the Estimates. The right hon. Gentleman asks a question in reference to the Scotch Education Bill. I think it would be inconvenient to make any definite arrangement as to the exact order in which the various stages of Bills that have to be passed should be taken. That depends on considerations that are not now present to my mind or the minds of Members. I can only deal with the immediate future. As to the Question of the hon. Member for Water-ford, I had sanguinely hoped that, even; if we were not fortunate enough to finish the Committee stage of the Finance Bill last night, we at ail events should without difficulty or doubt be able to finish it on Friday; but it is evident now that I the fulfilment of such a hope is not possible, and, inasmuch as I have promised to bring on the Licensing Bill on Monday, we shall not dispose of the stage of the Finance Bill whatever plan is adopted. In the circumstances, therefore, and to meet the strongly expressed wish of a large section of the House, I propose on Friday to take the two Irish Bills upon which the hon. and learned Member I for Waterford has asked several Questions.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

asked if the: Labourers (Ireland) Bill would be taken first. It would probably occupy the whole day.

MR. BRYCE

reminded the right hon. Gentleman that he had not answered the Question about the statement of the Secretary for War. The Army Estimates would contain a number of Votes for the salaries of officers whose offices might or might not be continued, and a discussion on these points would be useless if the offices were not to be continued in the next year. Did the Licensing Bill still stand for Monday?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Yes. I dissent entirely from the right hon. Gentleman. The Estimates will not be affected by the statement, for which I cannot now fix a day.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

The right hon. Gentleman says he will take the Licensing Bill on Monday. Is he then going to hang up the Finance Bill? When will it be taken again?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have already said I can only deal with the business immediately before us. It is quite evident that the Finance Bill must be passed and the Licensing Bill must be passed.