§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR (City of London)asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was aware that the Land Values (Scotland) Bill had not yet been printed, and whether he could give any precedent for a Government Bill of great importance read a first time, and the order for it being printed being given, remaining unprinted for more than three weeks.
§ Mr. ASQUITHI am not able at a moment's notice to give any precedents. The Bill will, I believe, be circulated immediately.
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURMay I ask you, Sir, whether it is not a very unusual and very inconvenient practice that an important Government Bill should be read a first time and should remain so long unprinted?
§ *Mr. SPEAKER: It is not a matter over which I have any control. It is undesirable that the delay should be unreasonably prolonged. The important matter seems to me to be that there should be a sufficient interval after the Bill is circulated and before the Second Reading.