§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Sir H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN, Stirling Burghs)said that it might be for the convenience of the House if he stated that he considered that the discussion on Clause 1 of the Education Bill should be concluded on Monday next, and it was proposed to ask the House to suspend the Eleven o'clock Rule for that purpose. On Tuesday the Government proposed to proceed with the Committee stage of the Finance Bill. On Wednesday, the chief business would be the Motion for the adjournment, but it might also be necessary to take a few minor orders, if they had not been previously disposed of. He might perhaps particularly refer to the Metropolitan Police Commission Bill, which had been estopped day by day. It had been understood that the Bill would go through the House, as the Bill which formed the precedent for it did last year, without opposition, and he hoped there would be no objection to its being taken on Monday. If not opposed it might be taken, and he trusted it would pass the remaining stages the following day.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)On what day will the Labourers' Bill be taken?
§ SIR A. ACLAND-HOOD (Somersetshire, Wellington)said there might be some discussion upon the Metropolitan Police Bill. Perhaps it might be brought in among minor Bills on the Wednesday.
§ Sin H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANsaid that would only carry the matter as far as the Second heading, and the other stages would then have to be taken after the Whitsuntide holidays, which would be almost equivalent to a frustration of the intentions of the House.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDWhat will be the business immediately after the holidays?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANsaid that on the Thursday when the House reassembled after the Whitsuntide holidays, he proposed that Army Votes which were not necessarily of a contentious character should be taken. Supply would also be taken on Friday. The following Monday it was intended to resume the discussion of the Education Bill in Committee. He hardly considered it likely that the Committee stage of the Trade Disputes Bill could be taken until the Education Bill had passed through Committee.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)asked when the Committee stage of the Trade Disputes Bill would be taken.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANreplied that that did not come within the range of the days to which his vision was confined. He thought the Education Bill would have to be the main business of the House until it was finished; but the Trade Disputes Bill would be taken at the earliest opportunity.
§ MR. LEA (St. Pancras, E.)Shall we be able on the Thursday we reassemble to discuss the question of the amount of crime in the Army?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThat will depend on the Votes submitted and on the ruling of the Chair.
§ MAJOR SEELY (Liverpool, Abercromby)What Votes will he taken?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANAmong others the Volunteers Vote, Votes 5 to 12, Votes 14 and 16, Ordnance, Works, Buildings, Establishment, Education, Miscellaneous, and non-Effective Votes.