§ Sir A. ACLAND-HOODMay I ask the Prime Minister the course of business for next week?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)On Monday we will take Supply, Vote 8 (Shipbuilding);
On Tuesday, the Colonial Office Vote (Class II., Vote 6);
On Wednesday, the Motions standing in my name with reference to the amendment of the Standing Orders. If these are disposed of, we shall take several 620 small Bills, including the Secretary to the Board of Agriculture Bill;
On Thursday we will take Supply (the nineteenth allotted day), this being the last day of Supply in Committee; and we will take the Vote for the Committee of Imperial Defence, Class II., Vote 3 (Treasury and Subordinate Departments). I postpone till Monday making any statement as to Friday's business.
§ Sir A. ACLAND-HOODWill the Prime Minister tell us when the Finance Bill is likely to be taken next?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNot next week, certainly.
§ Mr. LONSDALEWill the right hon. Gentleman give us some assurance that we will have a whole day to discuss next the Irish Land Bill—not a Friday?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have purposely not said anything about Friday, but I will bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman says.
§ Mr. A. LEEWill the right hon. Gentleman on Thursday next, when the Vote for the Imperial Defence Committee is taken, be able to make a statement with regard to the Naval Inquiry?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would rather not pledge myself on that point at this moment.
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURI would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can tell us—he may not be able to answer, but it will be a great convenience if he can, with all this business before us—when the Finance Bill will be next taken? Hon. Gentlemen on both sides would then be able to make their arrangements.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe only hesitation I have in answering that question is this: that we must get the Appropriation Bill after we have concluded the business of Supply. It is possible that that may take a day or two. Otherwise I should say we shall probably resume consideration of the Finance Bill on some day in the week after next.
§ Mr. BALFOURBefore the Appropriation Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo; we should first get the second reading of the Appropriation Bill. I would rather not venture to say more. At any rate, it will certainly not be next week; possibly not the week after. Possibly it may.
§ NEW MEMBER SWORX,—John W. Gulland, esq. (on re-election), for the Burghs.