§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR (City of London)asking for information as to next week's business, inquired especially whether then, or in some subsequent week an opportunity would be given for discussion on the Army Estimates for the Special Reserve, a matter of very great importance, on which the House of Commons had really had no opportunity of raising questions on the policy of the Government. Referring to the Prime Minister's earlier statement as to the recommittal of the Old-age Pensions Bill, he intimated that he was unconscious of any bargain or arrangement on this matter, and he imagined that the House would take its own course as to the manner in which it would use its time.
§ MR. ASQUITH,in repeating the arrangements for Monday, agreed that there was no question of a bargain, but he must plainly state that if there was any disposition shown to extend the scope of the discussion on the recommittal of the Old-age Pensions Bill he would have to reconsider whether he should propose the Motion at all. On Tuesday he would take the Report Stage of the Old-age Pensions Bill, and, in order to leave an interval between Report and Third Reading, take the latter on Thursday, instead of Supply, which would be taken on Wednesday, the Navy Estimates being put down. Vote 5 would be taken first, then Vote 14, and afterwards, if time permitted, Votes 13 and 15, the remainder of the sitting being devoted to the Scottish Estimates—the Fishery Board and the Local Government Board Votes. On Friday would be taken the Motion customary at that time of the session relating to the sitting of the House after eleven o'clock, and afterwards unless an arrangement was arrived at in the interval with regard to the Report stage of the Irish Universities Bill, a Procedure Resolution relating to that measure. He would consider the suggestion as to Army Supply, although four days had already been given to it.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURpointed out that they were broken days.
§ MR. ASQUITHI will, of course, look into the question.
§ MR. JAMES HOPE (Sheffield, Central)asked if it was intended that there should be no longer interval between the recommittal of the Old-age Pensions Bill and the Report than the time between the close of Monday's sitting and the sitting of Tuesday.
§ MR. ASQUITHYes, Sir, that is the case.
§ MR. WEIRexpressed a hope that the Secretary of Scotland would be granted time to deal with questions other than these relating to Vatersay which occupied practically the whole of the sitting devoted to Scottish Estimates
§ MR. ASQUITHsaid he believed the general desire was that he should put down the Vote for the Fishery Board first.