HC Deb 06 February 1913 vol 48 cc65-8
Mr. BONAR LAW

May I ask the chancellor of the Exchequer if he can make a statement as to the business of the House for next week?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)

On Monday we shall begin with the Army Supplementary Estimates, and then continue, and I hope conclude, the Civil Service Supplementary Estimates. Then we shall take the Ways and Means Committee, and thereafter the Railways (No. 2) Bill—Committee; on

Tuesday we shall take the Report of the Supplementary Estimates, and Ways and Means Report, followed by the introduction of the Appropriation Bill, and the Report and Third Reading of the Railways Bill; on

Wednesday the Appropriation Bill will be read a Second time; on

Thursday we shall take the Committee stage of the Appropriation Bill, which is a purely formal matter, and thereafter the discussion on Indian finance, requested by the right hon. Gentleman.

On some of these evenings we shall hope to take the Shops Act (1912) Amendment Bill, and the Superannuation (No. 2) Bill, both of which, I understand, may be regarded as agreed measures, and it is possible that some other small Bills may be regarded in the same light. On

Friday we shall take the Third Reading of the Appropriation Bill, to be followed by the Motion for the Adjournment of the House.

We propose to ask the House to meet again on Thursday, 6th March, to consider any Amendments to Bills that may return from the House of Lords. On

Friday, 7th March, Parliament will be prorogued, and the new Session will begin on Monday, 10th March.

Mr. BONAR LAW

Is that programme of business for next Session or next week? If it was for next week, does the right hon. Gentleman really seriously propose or suggest that these subjects can be disposed of in that time?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I do not know what part of the programme the right hon. Gentleman refers to.

Mr. BONAR LAW

Take Monday.

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

After the Army Supplementary Estimates, the Civil Service Supplementary Estimates, and the Ways and Means Committee, we propose to take the Railways Bill, which has been pressed from the right hon. Gentleman's own side. I may remind him that it was pressed by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for East Worcestershire (Mr. Austen Chamberlain). There was very considerable pressure brought from both sides of the House to get that Bill passed this Session. [An HON. MEMBER: "At a decent hour."]

Mr. BONAR LAW

The right hon. Gentleman has not replied to my question. Of course, I am anxious that the Railways Bill should go through, but I would suggest that the programme he has announced is absolutely impossible if there is to be discussion.

Sir A. MARKHAM

May I ask what time the right hon. Gentleman proposes to give to the Railways Bill? There is on this side of the House a considerable desire to discuss the Bill, but under the time-table laid down by the Chancellor of the Exchequer we shall only have opportunities of doing so in the early hours of Monday and Tuesday, and this House will have to sit continuously to conclude.

Captain CRAIG

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that no time has been given for considering the Superannuation Bill?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman had noticed what I said, he would remember that this is taken to be a Bill to which there is agreement. If it is understood the Superannuation Bill is a contested Bill, certainly the Government will not ask the House to take it. It was proposed on the assumption that it was an agreed Bill. If, as I understand, that Bill is contested, perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will take the usual means to inform the Government about it. It was proposed only on the assumption that it was an agreed Bill. With regard to what has been said by my hon. Friend, if the Railways Bill cannot be taken on Monday, then it could be taken on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mr. JOHN WARD

Why not drop it?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The Government cannot drop it, because it redeems a very definite pledge which the Prime Minister had to give at the settlement of the railway strike, and which should certainly be regarded as binding. It was on this pledge being given that the railway company settled, and it is a definite obligation.

Mr. J. WARD

Seeing that there is likely to be considerable discussion, even from the Opposition on the subject, why not drop it?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I do not think that is at all conclusive. The Opposition is divided about it, exactly as Members on this side are. This is an obligation undertaken by the Government, and if the time given is not adequate to discuss it, then I am afraid we shall have to ask the House of Commons to sit a little longer.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister stated on Tuesday, in answer to me, that the Railways Bill would be taken as a second order on Monday?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I think that is so. There are only Supplementary Estimates and Ways and Means Committee, which is a purely formal stage, and therefore really this is the second order.

Sir A. MARKHAM

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he stated that ample time would be given for the discussion of this Bill provided there was no obstruction, and is he aware that some years ago he made the statement that when the two Front Benches were openly agreed private Members ought always to oppose?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I have no recollection of that. It is very useful to have a convenient memory. The responsibility is on the House of Commons. If the House of Commons desires some time in the following week for discussion, of course it is not for the Government to ask them to sit up late at night. It is option of the House of Commons to decide the matter.

Mr. JOWETT

Did the Government take any steps to ascertain the feelings of the House of Commons before it gave this pledge?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

My hon. Friend has a great deal of experience in settling labour disputes, and knows that that would have been absolutely impossible. The settlement of a labour dispute is a matter of give-and-take across the Table. If you were really to refer back to the House of Commons every point, you would never settle it.

Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

Could you not in the circumstances have a Saturday sitting?

Mr. O'DONNELL

You could have a Saturday sitting. [HON. MEMBERS: "A Sunday sitting."]

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

A Saturday sitting is, of course, another alternative.