§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)I beg to ask whether the First Lord of the Treasury has any further statement to make on the business before the adjournment and the business to be taken first thing after the holidays.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI propose to put down for introduction to-morrow, under the so-called ten minutes rule, the Aliens Bill. Immediately that is over I shall make the Motion for the holidays. I suggest that we rise tomorrow until the Tuesday week following. There is also the Third Reading of the Telephones Bill, which I hope will be regarded as non-controversial, to be taken to-morrow before the dinner hour. There are several private Motions on the Paper for the Evening Sitting. On Tuesday, 12th April, I propose to take the Navy Estimates—Votes 9, 8, and 2. The Supply for Thursday, 14th April, will be Army Estimates. I cannot pledge myself as to the Monday following, as my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer desires to consult me on a matter of business connected with, the Budget. I propose, quite early after the reassembling, to introduce the Licensing Bill—in all probability I shall do that on Wednesday, 13th April.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDI hope the original proposal to move the Speaker out of the Chair on the Civil Service Estimates on Monday, 18th 863 April, will be adhered to. There is an Irish Motion to be moved, and we shall not be able to do this if the Motion to get the Speaker out of the Chair is postponed till the Thursday, as we have a public engagement in Ireland on that day.
MR. A. J. BALFOUKThe hon. and learned Gentleman shall have definite notice before the House separates of the final arrangements in regard to this matter, and I will take into consideration the arguments he has submitted.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDWhen will the Budget be int oduced?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI should think quite early after Easter, but I do not think I can say the exact date.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)Will the right hon. Gentleman say why he presses for so early a date for the Shipbuilding Vote, which amounts to something like £17,000,000. We have had six days given to Army Estimates, and the Admiralty is well supplied with money for some weeks to come.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am not wedded to the order I have mentioned, and if there is any more convenient course I shall be willing to adopt it. I must remind the House, however, that if I were to put down business in which nobody took any interest on the first day after the holidays we should have to meet a day earlier.