HC Deb 13 March 1912 vol 35 cc1109-10
Lord CHARLES BERESFORD

I desire to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty a question of which I have given private notice—namely, when the remaining portion of the Navy Estimates for 1912–13 will be presented to the House?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I hope they will be presented on Tuesday.

Lord C. BERESFORD

But the Debate will not take place before the whole of the Estimates are in the hands of the House?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The discussion on the Estimates does not at all depend upon the issue of this programme. The programme is not part of the Estimates, and is not voted by the House. It is merely a detailed appropriation of our proposals with regard to Vote 8, which is in the Estimates.

Lord C. BERESFORD

The right hon. Gentleman is aware that it is the allocation of the money. We cannot discuss the Estimates until we know how the Government propose to allocate the money.

Dr. MACNAMARA

The programme, which is an Appendix to the Estimates, is not voted by the House as a part of the Estimates. It may be necessary for information, but it is not part of the Estimates.

Mr. ARTHUR LEE

Are we to have the discussion before we have the information? Can the right hon. Gentleman say why, in this particular case, it should be impossible to furnish the information which has always been given?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The information will be furnished at the earliest possible date. What I have said is that the presentation of this Appendix is not contingent on the Debate on the Estimates. But there will be no delay. We shall issue it as soon as we can.

Lord C. BERESFORD

I think the House has a right to ask that the Estimates shall not be presented for discussion before we know what they are for.

Dr. MACNAMARA

The Noble Lord is really wrong. Members have the Estimates in the fullest possible form. This is an Appendix, and not a part of the Estimates. It is merely a detailed application of the money asked for under Vote 8, which is usually debated very fully late in the year.

Lord C. BERESFORD

Very unsatisfactory!

Mr. BONAR LAW

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what is the business for to-morrow. May I also say that we shall offer the most strenuous opposition to any proposal to discuss the Navy Estimates before all the information is available.

Mr. McKENNA

The latter part of the right hon. Gentleman's observations I will report to my right hon. Friend. To-morrow we shall take the Report of the Army Votes.