§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURMay I ask the Prime Minister to give us some estimate of the business for next week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI propose on Monday Committee of Supply on Army Votes A and 1. On Tuesday, 9th March, in the earlier part of the sitting I shall bring forward a Motion to enable the Supply of the year to be obtained by the end of the present month. The Government do not desire that discussion should be unduly curtailed, and we believe the suspension of the 11 o'clock rule for Supply Votes during the present month will be the most convenient way of securing the Supply. [OPPOSITION cheers.] Do hon. Gentlemen prefer the guillotine? I trust it will not be necessary to have prolonged sittings, but having regard to the Votes which must be passed to enable the Royal Assent to be given to the Consolidated Fund Bill on the 30th, it must be apparent that we have no alternative. After that Motion on Tuesday we propose to take the Report of the Army Votes A and 1, and on Wednesday to continue that stage. On Thursday we shall take the Civil Service Estimates, and the Vote on Account.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe right hon. Gentleman has not mentioned the Bill to be founded on the Ways and Means Resolution taken yesterday. When does he propose to take that?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe take the Report of the Resolution to-day, and the various stages of the Bill will be taken de die in diem after 11 o'clock.
§ Mr. A. CHAMBERLAINI think it was stated that the Navy Estimates would be out on Saturday the 13th. Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to secure that they shall be circulated to Members on that day? Extracts from the Army votes appeared in the evening papers before they were circulated to Members. Of course, the object of having them out on Saturday is that Members may study them either on Saturday or Sunday.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will do my best to provide hon. Members with Sunday reading. We will circulate them on Saturday effectively.