Mr. BALFOURPerhaps the Prime Minister will allow me to ask him a question about the order of business, with 224 regard to which there appears to be some doubt. I understand that if the Resolutions which the right hon. Gentleman is about to move are carried to-day we shall have finished the procedure upon the Lords Resolutions at the end of next week —on the last Government day—and that on the Monday following—that is, Monday week—we shall take the Closure Resolutions upon the Budget. The point that is in doubt is whether, if these Resolutions are passed, we shall take the Budget immediately, or whether we shall take the Vote on Account, which, I understand, is also part of the immediate programme of the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe shall take the Budget.
§ The PRIME MINISTERassented.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman when the Budget Statement, as promised, will be made, and when we shall be told what are the changes contemplated by the Government in the Budget produced last year? Will it be made before the Closure Resolutions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERindicated dissent.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI understand the right hon. Gentleman to say no. Are we to carry the Closure Resolutions without knowing whether it is the same Bill or a different Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think there will be ample latitude of discussion on the Closure Resolutions. Certainly it is our intention to propose the Closure Resolutions first, and then to have the Budget Statement.
§ Mr. WILLIAM PEELWill the Budget be taken continuously from day to day?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I must repeat the answer I gave yesterday.
§ Viscount HELMSLEYWill the usual Resolutions precede the Budget, or does the right hon. Gentleman by the Budget mean the Finance Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWhen the hon. Gentleman sees the Closure Resolutions the information he desires will be supplied.