§ Mr. BONAR LAWMay I ask the Prime Minister what business will be taken on Friday, and also whether he can say now when he intends to take the Home Rule Bill on Report?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn Friday we propose to proceed with the Committee stage of the Welsh Church Bill. It would be for the convenience of the House if I were to state now that to-morrow night or Thursday night, after the ordinary business, we shall hope to take the Lords Amendments to the Criminal Law Amendment Bill. There are not many of them, and I believe there are not many contentious. It is most desirable in the public interest that this Bill should come into operation at the earliest possible moment. In regard to the Report stage of the Government of Ireland Bill, I should be obliged if the right hon. Gentleman would repeat the question to-morrow, because I would rather not commit myself now.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the Home Secretary, in the first day's Debate on the Closure Resolution, definitely stated that the Welsh Bill would not be sandwiched in on Friday while discussion was going on on other matters?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the right hon. Gentleman will refer me to that statement, I will carefully consider it.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI will be glad to do so.
§ Mr. ALFRED LYTTELTONMy memory in this matter is the same as that of my right hon. Friend. [HON. MEMBERS: "Quote."]
§ The PRIME MINISTERWhat was it exactly?
§ Mr. A. LYTTELTONI think it was this, though I am recalling the circumstances from memory. I pointed out that if the Bill was taken in Committee in isolation on Friday, it would be impossible for the Press properly to report it in such a, way as to bring the proposals before the attention of the public. I am speaking from recollection, but I understood the Home Secretary to acquiesce in that, and to give an assurance that Friday should not be given in isolation. May I ask, 282 having regard to that, if he is now taking Friday in isolation? We did not protest against the Bill being taken on Thursday and Friday, although Friday was an extremely inconvenient day. But this is a proposal to take one of the most important parts of the whole Bill, if not the most important part, on an isolated Friday.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is not so, Sir. I certainly propose that the Bill should be taken on Monday, and probably on Tuesday also, so that it will not be taken in isolation.
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENMay I ask the Prime Minister if he is aware that next Friday Clause 4 will be taken, which is the important Discndowment Clause of the Bill. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] I venture to say that it is. It is the Clause that takes away the Endowments from the Church. May I recall to the Prime Minister that in a conversation which ho very courteously had with me regarding the business for last Friday, it was suggested that Clause 4 might be taken in place of Clause 3, and that he admitted it would not be fair to take such an important Clause as Clause 4 on a Friday?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am sorry the hon. Gentleman should refer to a private conversation. I am not sure that I said that. At any rate, what I said was said quite privately. The hon. Member objected to Clause 3 being taken last Friday because lawyers could not conveniently attend, and I did my very best, as I think he will agree, to arrange that some other Clause should be taken. I shall be very glad to do the same with regard to Clause 4, subject to agreement on both sides of the House. It can only be done by agreement. I do not agree with him that Clause 4 is more important as regards Endowments than a Clause which comes later. Clause 4 is a vesting Clause, and I agree that it raises questions germane to Endowments, but Clause 8, to which two days will be given, is really the Clause on which the main question will arise.
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI was unwilling to refer to the private conversation, but I certainly did so understand the Prime Minister, and I told my Friends accordingly. May I point out that Clause 4 is the Clause that takes away money from the Church and vests it in other bodies? In these circumstances, is it not possible to take the discussion on some day other than a Friday?
§ Lord ROBERT CECILMay I ask if the Prime Minister has considered whether the decision on Clause 4 will not bind the decision on Clause 8?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will consider that. I have told the House what my present impression is. Clause 4 is a vesting Clause, and the question what is to be vested in the representative body of the Church depends upon the decision of the House on Clause 8. It is really without prejudice to Clause 8. That is my present impression.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to look carefully into that? I think Clause 4 decides definitely what is to go to the Welsh Commissioners and the representative body. It is true that Clause 8 deals with the distribution of property that has already been given to the Welsh Commissioners.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will consider very respectfully what the Noble Lord says. I am anxious in the last degree that the House should have the fullest opportunity of expressing its views upon the question.
§ Lord BALCARRESCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is definitely fixed that the Welsh Church Bill will be taken on Monday and Tuesday next week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWell, certainly on Monday.
§ Mr. LEIF JONESIs is not the fact that under the arrangement when this business is taken on Friday the time given to it is only half an hoar less than it would be on an ordinary day?
§ 4.0 P.M.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIn arranging Government business, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the Bankruptcy Bill which has come down from the House of Lords; and in making his announcement as to the general Government arrangements, will he state to the House what facilities he can give to the Bill, having regard to the fact that it is desired by a large body of traders?
§ The PRIME MINISTERmade an observation which was inaudible.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHWhen can the right hon. Gentleman give us any indication as to the allocation of time on the Report stage of the Home Rule Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe must get to the end of the Committee stage first. Very full notice will be given. It will be as soon as we can.