§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us what the business will be next week?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid the Vote on Account would be taken on Monday. In accordance with a very convenient practice which had been established for some years, he had endeavoured to make himself acquainted with the subject which the Opposition, as a whole, most desired to discuss, and he gathered that that subject was education. The Education Vote would be the Vote put down first accordingly. The Report would be taken on Wednesday afternoon, which would give an opportunity for the discussion of any other subject. On Tuesday Report of the Supplementary Estimates would be taken, and on Thursday Report of Supply, Army and Navy.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)said the arrangement did not meet the convenience of the Irish Party, who had not been consulted. It was not right, therefore, to say that the convenience of the Opposition, as a whole, had been consulted.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid he should have thought the hon. and learned Gentleman could have better attained his wishes by negotiation with other fractions of the Opposition than by any aid he could give. It ought to be easy to arrange for the discussion upon the Vote on Account and another subject in which the hon. Member was interested at the Evening Sitting on Monday, or the Afternoon Sitting on Wednesday, and if he could assist such an arrangement he would do so.
§ *SIR BRAMPTON GURDONasked whether an opportunity would be given of discussing the Vote on Account as a Vote on Account. Hon. Members might consider the instalments too large, or there might be some service in respect of which the House might deem it wise not to sanction a Vote on Account.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURreplied that the hon. Member had better arrange with the authorities of the Party to which he belonged. Only a certain amount of time could, by the Rules of the House, be given to the Vote on Account, and he had always desired that the distribution of the time should be left to those who were the natural critics of the Government.
§ COLONEL DENNYWhen will the Scotch Education Bill be introduced?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI hope on an early day. I cannot say definitely.