§ Mr. JAMES HOPEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, for the general convenience of the House, he will cause the text of the Finance Bill to be immediately circulated as a White Paper?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEIt would be contrary to practice to circulate the text of any Bill prior to its introduction. I shall be willing to introduce the Bill at the earliest possible moment after the Budget Resolutions have been reported to the House.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it necessary to be so bound by precedent as to let it override the universal convenience of Members of the House?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEOn the contrary, I think I am prepared to meet the convenience of Members opposite. They asked me to put the Budget Resolutions on the Paper, and I have responded to the representations made. It is a perfectly different thing to ask me to commit a direct violation of the practice of the House by printing the Bill before even obtaining the leave of the House.
§ Earl WINTERTONFollowing the precedent of publishing a memorandum on the introduction of the Budget, will the right hon. Gentleman issue a memorandum dealing with the various questions put to him and left over until the Bill is printed?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEThe Noble Lord will find that the best memorandum is the Bill itself.