HC Deb 27 June 1905 vol 148 cc267-8
MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can fix a date for taking the Committee stage of the Unemployed Bill.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am not yet in a position to name a date for the Committee stage of this Bill.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

Seeing Monday next is practically unoccupied, would that not be a favourable opportunity?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

So far as I can foresee, that day will be occupied by the Aliens Bill.

MR. CROOKS

Will the Unemployed Bill have precedence over the Redistribution Resolutions.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

They are not at all in pari materia.

MR. CROOKS

rose amid cries of "Order."

* MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member having asked a Question should await the reply.

MR. CROOKS

I understood the Prime Minister had given way. As he is aware I have no knowledge of Latin, will the right hon. Gentleman put his Answer into English?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I was going to supply the hon. Gentleman and others with a loose translation, which is that you cannot really compare Resolutions with a Bill from the point of view of the business of the House, because the one involves First and Second Reading, Committee, and possibly a Report Stage, and a Third Reading, while a Resolution is dealt with at once as a substantive matter.

AN HON. MEMBER

A very loose translation if not lucid.

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