§ Lord HUGH CECILasked the Prime Minister whether it is still the intention of the Government to pass the Budget and get it through before this House adjourns for the Spring Recess; whether it is the intention of the Government to ask the House to proceed continuously with the Budget after its introduction until it is either rejected or passed through this House; whether the Government intend to propose any resolution abbreviating procedure on the Budget, or whether it will be passed through the usual stages; and whether the Government's intentions relating to the Budget are in any degree contingent, and, if so, how far, on what may happen to the Veto Resolutions in the House of Lords?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn the answer which I am about to give, I beg the Noble Lord to observe that I am expressing intentions, and not giving undertakings. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second and third, that it would be premature, at present, to say more than repeat what I have said already—that it will be necessary to resort to some form of more or less summary procedure. In regard to the last part of the question, the Government's intention to obtain the assent of this House to the Budget is not contingent on anything that may happen elsewhere.
§ Lord HUGH CECILIn order that there may be no misunderstanding—I do not want the right hon. Gentleman to 23 repeat what he has already said—may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Budget will pass through all its stages before the Spring Recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not say how many stages there will be.
§ Lord HUGH CECILBut will it be finally disposed of in this House before then?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have answered the question quite explicitly.
§ Lord HUGH CECILWith great respect, I may have misunderstood the right hon. Gentleman. I want to know whether he means that the Budget will be disposed of before the Spring Recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWhat the Noble Lord asked was, whether "it is still the intention of the Government to pass the Budget and get it through before this House adjourns for the Spring Recess." My answer is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. WILLIAM PEELMay I ask whether the statement of the Prime Minister that the Budget will be passed through the House of Commons before the Spring Recess will affect the date of that recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot answer that.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean the Budget Resolutions or the Finance Bill to be founded upon them?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI mean the Budget.
§ Lord HUGH CECILWhat does the right hon. Gentleman mean by the Budget?
§ Mr. EVELYN CECILMay I ask whether the Government in this matter intend to resort to any party tactics?
§ Mr. HARRY SEYMOUR FOSTERasked the Prime Minister when he proposes to take steps to carry out the pledge which he gave to this House on 2nd December last, that, in the event of the Government being fortunate enough to enjoy the confidence of this House after the General Election then impending, the first act of his Government would be to reimpose as from the dissolution of Parliament all the taxes and duties which were embodied in the late Finance Bill 24 and to validate all past collections and deductions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI must refer the hon. Member to the statement that I made on 21st February, and to the answers given on the subject during the past fortnight to the hon. and learned Member for York and others.