HC Deb 08 May 1906 vol 156 cc1172-3
MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he will bring on the Motion for the appointment of a Select Committee on the Housing of the Working Classes Acts Amendment Bill at a reasonable hour to-night, so that it may be properly discussed.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,) Stirling Burghs

The Motion can be brought on only after eleven o'clock, as the remainder of the sitting has already been allotted to the Education Bill.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

said the Motion conveyed an imputation on the Members with whom he was associated, and if it could be put down for a reasonable hour it might not be necessary to move the suspension of the eleven o'clock rule.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I am afraid we cannot come to any arrangement. There is no imputation made upon any one, but obviously it was inconvenient yesterday in this way to absorb a great part of the time which the House expected to be devoted to the Education Bill.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

asked if it was to be understood that in the event of the debate on the Education Bill being stopped some few minutes before eleven, no attempt would be made to take business other than that referred to in the Motion.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

That is so, no other business will be taken.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

Cannot the Government give us one or two hours before eleven o'clock in order to discuss this matter?

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

No, Sir. An arrangement has been come to conclude this debate on Thursday, and we are bound to give the House the whole of the time up till then for the purposes of the discussion.