HC Deb 05 November 1908 vol 195 cc1423-4
MR. A. J. BALFOUR (City of London)

asked the Prime Minister to give some statement as to the future course of business. He understood that the Committee stage of the Licensing Bill would be finished on Monday, and hoped that some opportunity would be given of considering the Government Amendments put down for the Report stage, especially as a large number of those Amendments dealt with questions that had been deferred to that stage. He also asked on what date it was proposed to take the Third Reading of the Bill, and what business would be taken between the Committee and the Report stages.

MR. ASQUITH

said that the last allotted day for the Committee stage of the Licensing Bill would be Monday next. He proposed to allow a substantial interval between the Committee and the Report stages. On Tuesday they would take the Report and Third Reading of the Scottish Education Bill, and the eleven o'clock rule would be suspended to complete the proceedings on that measure. On Wednesday they would take the Port of London Bill in Committee, and, in accordance with the closure Resolution adopted before the adjournment, the eleven o'clock rule would be suspended for consideration of the Resolution allocating the time for the Report stage of the Licensing Bill. On Thursday they would go on to complete the Committee stage of the Port of London Bill. They proposed to enter on the Report stage of the Licensing Bill on Friday—[OPPOSITION cries of "Oh!"]—and to continue that stage, if necessary, in the following week. He hoped to get the Third Reading stage on the ensuing Friday, 20th November.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

hoped that the right hon. Gentleman would not absolutely and irrevocably fix on the Friday. It was a matter for consideration and discussion, and perhaps he would keep an open mind on the point. He asked when the Government Amendments on the Report stage would appear on the Paper.

MR. ASQUITH

said that they would appear on Tuesday morning. The Government could not put them down until the Committee stage was finished. He hoped that the Resolution allocating the time of the Report stage would be circulated on Monday.

LORD R. CECIL

asked when a discussion on the regulations under the Old-Age Pensions Act, which must take place in Parliament within twenty-one days of their issue, could be taken.

MR. ASQUITH

I was not aware that any notice of Motion has been given on the subject.

LORD R. CECIL

I have given one.

MR. ASQUITH

I will consider the question.

EARL WINTERTON

asked whether a day would be given for discussing the Report of the Committee on Public Accounts.

MR. ASQUITH

I cannot say more than I did yesterday, but I am very anxious to do so if possible.