HC Deb 29 June 1904 vol 137 cc33-4
MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can now state when the consideration of the Finance Bill will be resumed.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

We shall not finish the Committee stage of the Finance Bill until we come to the concluding stage of the Licensing Bill.

MR. WHITLEY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the trade concerned is completely at a standstill meantime, and does he really propose to allow that state of things to go on for five weeks.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I hope things are not so bad as the hon. Gentleman seems to suggest. If they are I hope he will give us his sedulous and earnest support in hurrying matters forward.

MR. BUCHANAN

Is there any precedent for postponing the Committee stage of the Finance Bill to the end of July.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have not looked up the precedents.