§ Mr. LAWSONasked the Prime Minister if he can now explain in what form and by what procedure the Resolutions now before the House, if passed by the House, will be introduced into the House of Lords?
EARL of KERRYasked whether he will undertake that the Government will not bring in a Home Rule Bill for Ireland until the promised reform of the House of Lords has been carried out?
§ Mr. GOLDMANasked whether, in view of the promise in the Gracious Speech delivered by His Majesty at the opening of Parliament of a measure to be introduced by the Government reconstituting the House of Lords, it is their intention to add to the representation in that Chamber of the interests of religion by the inclusion of representatives of other religious 590 denominations than the Church of England?
§ Mr. STAVELEY-HILLasked whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce the Veto Resolutions now before this House in the House of Lords; and, if so, at what date and under what conditions?
Major STANLEYasked whether, in view of the Resolution that has been placed before the House of Commons with regard to the House of Lords and Money Bills, it is the intention of the Government to send the Budget of 1909–10 to the House of Lords before the Resolutions are finally disposed of by the House of Lords?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThese questions all relate to the intentions or action of the Government in the future, near or remote, and most of them to contingencies which have not yet arisen and may not arise, or to proceedings that may hereafter be taken in another place. I do not think that I can be called upon at present to answer them.
§ Mr. LAWSONWhen will the right hon. Gentleman take Parliament into his confidence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am doing so.
§ Mr. W. PEELIs there any precedent for introducing in the House of Lords Resolutions that have been passed in the House of Commons, and on which a Bill is subsequently to be founded in the House of Commons?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would require a good deal of notice before answering that.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHDoes the right hon. Gentleman expect that these Resolutions will be disposed of in another place before the Budget is introduced?
§ Mr. W. REDMONDYou should know that.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe question is purely speculative.
§ Mr. PIRIEMay I ask if it is not the case that during the election the Prime Minister and other Members of the Government declared that no less urgent a reform as that of Home Rule for Ireland was that of Home Rule for Scotland?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that arises out of the reply.
§ Lord BALCARRESArising out of Question No. 60, may I ask if the Finance Bill will leave the House of Commons before the Resolutions are disposed of by the Lords?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not know how soon the Resolutions will be disposed of in the House of Lords.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHMay I ask is the right hon. Gentleman of the same opinion respecting the reform of the House of Lords as designated in the King's Speech?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question.
§ Mr. STAVELEY-HILLasked whether the present proposals for amending the relations between the two Houses are only of a temporary character, and it is intended to bring forward further proposals with respect to the relations between, the two Houses when the scheme for the reform of the House of Lords is introduced or becomes law?
§ Mr. FITZROYasked whether it is the intention of the Government that the Veto Resolutions now under discussion shall apply only to the House of Lords as at present constituted, or to any reformed Second Chamber however constituted?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI must refer the hon. Members to what I said on this subject in my speech here on Tuesday in last week, to which I have nothing at present to add.