HC Deb 12 March 1906 vol 153 cc940-1
MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN (Birmingham, W.)

I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury two Questions with regard to business this evening. In the first place, with regard to the Motion which he has put upon the Paper for the suspension of the twelve o'clock rule, may I assume that it is not intended to prolong the debate, and that the object is merely to prevent the automatic interruption of a speech which may be in progress at the hour of twelve o'clock? The second Question is whether, having regard to the importance of the discussion raised by the Motion of the hon. Baronet the Member for Colne Valley, and to the variety of subjects, also of great importance, raised by the Amendment on the Paper, the right hon. Gentleman has satisfied himself that it will be quite impossible to close the debate to-night.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

So far as I am able to ascertain the general feeling of the House, I think there is a desire that more than one day should be given to this discussion, and, therefore, it is not my intention to move the Motion which stands in my name; but I have two, not exactly conditions, but hopes to express. One is that we shall be allowed, if necessary, in the course of the next week or two, to suspend the twelve o'clock rule at least one day oftener than we expected to do, on account of the exigencies of Supply, in consequence of the additional day being given for the purpose of this debate. In the second place, I hope we may have a division on the main question before dinner to-morrow, and that the discussion of any Amendment which may be under consideration will be brought to a close in sufficient time to enable that to be done.

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN

With regard to the first question or hope expressed by the right hon. Gentleman, I am quite sure we shall be glad to give him any assistance that may be really necessary in order to deal with the emergencies of Supply; but probably it would be better to address a Question on that subject to-morrow to my right hon. friend the Leader of the Opposition, who will then be in his place. As regards the second question, I must say that I think the right hon. Gentleman is extremely sanguine if he thinks that a debate which has been given such exceptional importance by the action of the Government itself, and has raised so very many matters of the greatest possible interest, can be brought to a close by to-morrow at dinner time. I cannot give him any hope that we can help him in that direction, nor can I believe that those who have put down Amendments, whether on this side of the House or the other, would be willing that the debate should be prematurely brought to a close under these circumstances.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

If that is the view taken by the right hon. Gentleman and his friends, I can only fall back on my original intention and move the Motion which stands in my name.