§ Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked whether the Government propose to frame the financial provisions of their Home Rule Bill before they have attempted to obtain an estimate of the contribution of the province of Ulster towards the true revenue of Ireland; and whether any attempt to obtain such an estimate has yet been made by them?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to him on 4th March, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the Prime Minister if he can now state at what date the Home Rule Bill will be introduced?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is my intention to introduce this Bill immediately after Easter. There has been no change of plan by the Government in regard to this matter. This is the date which has always been contemplated and intended by the Government since before the opening of the Session.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean Tuesday or Wednesday after the Easter Recess?
§ Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has observed that Home Rule will have to be debated before Easter, whether we like or not, and in a very partial and inconvenient form, on the Motion of which the hon. and gallant Member for East Down (Captain Craig) has given notice for the 20th of this month, and whether he will consider if it would not be a more convenient allocation of the public time if he would appropriate that night, and compensate the hon. and gallant Gentleman, and every other Irish Member, by devoting the night to the introduction of the Home Rule Bill, so that we may know where we are, even if the remainder of the Debate on the First Reading has to be adjourned over the Easter Recess?
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTIs the Prime Minister aware that the hon. and gallant Member has not got the first place on the Order Paper for that evening, and that his Motion will never be reached?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not aware of that. I have always thought that this Bill, having regard to its magnitude and complexity and to its being far 808 the most important Bill of the Session, ought to be introduced under conditions which will secure adequate Parliamentary discussion.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEMay I ask whether it is the intention of the right hon. Gentleman to introduce the Home Rule Bill during the week the House resumes after the Easter recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir, certainly.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if that will be the first occasion on which we shall see the Bill in print?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should have thought the Noble Lord had been long enough a Member of the House to know that a Bill is not circulated in print before it is introduced.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that he proposes to introduce the Bill on the Tuesday after the Easter recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn that week, certainly
§ Mr. BONAR LAWBut not on the Tuesday?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have not decided whether it will be Tuesday or Wednesday. It will be an early day of that week.
§ Mr. SPEAKERAny further questions should be put on the Paper.
§ Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked whether the decision of the Government not to publish the recommendations of the Committee on Irish Finance was taken before or after the Committee reported.
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo decision has yet been taken as to the eventual publication of the Report.
§ Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Prime Minister, whether he will appoint a small representative Commission to inquire into and report upon the financial relations between Great Britain and Ireland before the introduction of the Home Rule Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. and learned Member for Waterford (Mr. J. Redmond) on the occasion of the last Home Rule Bill recommended this very procedure?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not aware of it.