§ Mr. BONAR LAWMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister if he can make any statement about the business of the week?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)To-morrow (Friday) after the Report of the Army, Office of Works, Votes of Ways and Means, we shall put down the House of Commons Offices (Class II., Vote 2), Mercantile Marine (Class II., Vote 9), and the Mint (Class II., Vote 19).
On Monday and Tuesday we shall take the Second Reading of the Established Church (Wales) Bill.
On Wednesday we had meant to take the Second Reading of the Temperance (Scotland) Bill. I understand, however, that the Report of the Marconi Committee will be issued to-morrow, and, as I have given an undertaking to the House that there would be an opportunity for its discussion at the earliest possible moment, I shall be glad, if the House so desires, to reserve Wednesday and Thursday for that discussion. In that event we will take the Temperance (Scotland) Bill on Friday.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIn regard to the discussion which the right hon. Gentleman proposes for Wednesday and Thursday, I agree with him in thinking that the whole House desires that it should take place as soon as possible. But I do not know whether the minutes of evidence will be available, and I should have thought—and I shall be surprised if the right hon. Gentleman does not agree with me—that hon. Members ought to have an opportunity of seeing the evidence before the discussion takes place.
§ The PRIME MINISTERassented.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us when the evidence will be available?
§ Mr. FALCONERBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers, may I inform him that the whole minutes of procedure and evidence referring to the branch of the case dealt with in the Special Report will be in the Vote Office, complete, to-morrow at three o'clock.
§ The PRIME MINISTERAnd the evidence?
§ Mr. FALCONERIncluding the evidence.
§ Mr. GEORGE FABERNo!
§ The PRIME MINISTERAre we to clearly understand that that will include the evidence that has been taken?
§ Mr. FALCONERYes, it will include the evidence, which is already in type.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIf that is so, I think the time suggested by the right hon. Gentleman is quite desirable. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will consider whether the evidence will be really available in good time.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI quite agree with the right hon. Gentleman that we ought to have the evidence, and that we ought to have time to consider it. If my hon. Friend (Mr. Falconer) is right in saying that the evidence will be available to-morrow, I should have thought that Wednesday should do for the commencement of the discussion.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI quite agree that that is so.