§ Mr. FELLasked the Prime Minister if he can say when the Budget will be presented; what is the reason for the delay; and why it was not presented at the ordinary interval after the close of the last financial year?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere is no fixed or usual date for the presentation of the Budget. I cannot name the precise date for its introduction at present, but I hope that it will be as soon as the Parliament Bill is disposed of in this House.
§ Mr. FELLMay I ask whether any assurance can be given by the Prime Minister that when the Budget is brought in it will be passed in the usual way, and not piecemeal in three portions, as in the case of the Budget of last year?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe have only just got rid of last year's Budget, and I should not like to venture to give any assurance as to the future in view of our experience in the past.