Mr. BALFOURPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will allow me to ask two questions. The first is, can he tell us anything about the arrangements which the Government propose to make with regard to the Easter Holidays? The other is in reference to a notice given by my right hon. Friend with regard to the Archer-Shee case. I would like to know if the right hon. Gentleman would prefer me to ask to-day or on some later date for a statement with regard to putting down the First Lord of the Admiralty's salary in order that the case may be discussed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWith regard to the second question, perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would allow me to answer it 41 to-morrow, as I am not yet fully possessed of the case. In answer to the first question, we shall propose after the sitting on Wednesday, 12th April, to ask the House to adjourn until Tuesday, the 18th.
Sir HENRY DALZIELWill the proceedings on the Parliament Bill be resumed before Easter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not sure. I cannot give the date.
§ Lord HUGH CECILCan the Prime Minister tell us which Votes he thinks it necessary to get to-night?
§ The PRIME MINISTERVotes A, 1, 13, 14, 15. If the Committee are not disposed to proceed further, we shall postpone Votes 7 and 11.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINWhy are the last Votes necessary, 13 and 14?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt is a question of the amount of money. If we do not take them, we shall not have enough money for the six or seven weeks.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI believe it has not been the custom—certainly it has not been the universal rule—to have the whole of these Votes taken on the first day. The Government are taking less than usual on the Civil Service Votes on account this year, perhaps they could do with less than the usual on the Admiralty Votes.
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Votes put down on the Paper give us not the whole of the Votes but enough to last as long as the amount of money taken on the Civil Service Votes. If I am not given the Votes now I shall not have enough money to last until June. If I do not get thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen I shall not have enough money to last me two months. In my experience Votes thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen have always been given before the 31st March. They are automatic Votes, and do not involve any question of principle. If I do not get them, and only get Votes A and 1, I shall not have enough money to last me beyond the middle of May.
§ Mr. LEEWe always had more than one day for Votes A and 1. The other Votes followed automatically on the granting of the additional day.
§ Mr. McKENNAYes; we usually have had two days I quite agree, but unless I get the money before the 31st March I shall not have enough to go on with.
Mr. BALFOURMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman does not remember, when he talks of our having had two days, and only technically one day, that the day he is thinking of was substantially given not to us but to his friends who were attacking him? It was of no interest to us. What we wanted was time to discuss the Navy Votes.
§ Mr. McKENNAAs a matter of fact, there was the day taken for getting the Speaker out of the Chair, when there was a general discussion.
Mr. BALFOURIs it not a fact that the whole of that day was taken up by an Amendment moved by the Labour party below the Gangway directed against the right hon. Gentleman himself, and that the Speaker ruled that we were not at liberty to discuss any questions or particular matters commonly discussed on these Votes?
§ Mr. LOUGHMay I ask whether my right hon. Friend (Mr. McKenna) does not think that his friends behind him are more numerous than hon. Gentlemen opposite, that they have just as much right to time as hon. Gentlemen opposite, and that the arrangement to which reference is made was one to which we attached great importance?
§ Mr. REMNANTYou do not represent a larger number.
§ Lord HUGH CECILwas understood to ask the Prime Minister whether a day could not be given later on for the discussion of other Votes.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI certainly will consider that. On the other hand we had a day upon which there seems to have been a very interesting and instructive discussion on naval policy in its larger aspects. The Noble Lord has made a request which I think very reasonable. My right hon. Friend will this year bring on Vote 8, the important Vote for construction, at an earlier date than usual—I think in May, but if not in May certainly at the beginning of June. As a rule, it has been postponed until the middle of the month of July. I will bear in mind the request of the Noble Lord.