HC Deb 29 May 1913 vol 53 cc343-5
Mr. CASSEL

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the Second Reading of the Finance Bill under the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act need not be taken until the 20th June, is there some other, and, if so, what reason for the postponement of the Second Reading of the Government of Ireland Bill than that given to the House by the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE (for the Prime Minister)

I see no reason for adding to the statement which I made to the House on Tuesday last.

Mr. CASSEL

What is the necessity for taking consecutively the Second Readings of the three Bills-to which the right hon. Gentleman referred without an interval of two days for the Finance Bill? And how is it that the necessity did not occur to the Government before the adjournment for Whitsuntide?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I do not see why the hon. and learned Gentleman suggests that it did not occur to the Government. It was the intention of the Government to take these Bills consecutively. I do not see what reason he has for suggesting that there has been any alteration.

Mr. BONAR LAW

As no new fact has arisen since the Prime Minister made the announcement, can the right hon. Gentleman explain what reason there is for the change now?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The right hon. Gentleman was not here when I gave the reason. Let me call his attention and the attention of hon. Members generally to what the Prime Minister said:— Our present proposal is—again subject to further consideration—to take it on the Monday after the House reassembles. The Prime Minister, when he made the announcement, indicated that it might be subject to further consideration.

Mr. BONAR LAW

But did not that mean some new circumstance which might arise? This circumstance is not new; it could have been foreseen.

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

That the Prime Minister's attention was called to this afterwards is perfectly true. The right hon. Gentleman has only to look at the figures to see that it is quite impossible to get the Finance Bill unless you postpone the Second Readings of the other two Bills. It would be quite impossible to take it once you began the Second Readings of the other Bills.

Mr. JAMES HOPE

May we take it that there will be three full Parliamentary weeks given to the Second Readings of these Bills?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

It is very satisfactory to know that the hon. and learned Member thinks that less than three weeks would be sufficient and that something like half a day would be sufficient for the Second Reading of the Finance Bill.

Mr. JAMES HOPE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, first, how he comes to think that I said the words he attributes to me; and, secondly, on what ground he describes me as learned?

Mr. CASSEL

My question was addressed to the necessity for taking the three Bills consecutively. If the Home Rule Bill alone were taken, and two days' interval allowed for the Finance Bill, it is impossible to see what is the reason for the change?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I should have thought that it was perfectly obvious that it is for the convenience of the House that you should take these Second Readings consecutively. You must take into account the arrangements for Committee. It is desirable that, having got the Second Reading of one Bill, you should be able to proceed with the Committee stage after the Second Reading of the others is disposed of.

Mr. BONAR LAW

May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the business will be next week? I think it will be a great convenience to the House if the right hon. Gentleman can say definitely when the Home Rule Bill will be taken.

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

On Monday, as already stated, we shall take the Second Reading of the Finance Bill.

On Tuesday we shall complete the Second Reading of the Mental Deficiency Bill, and, if time permits, I hope some of the other smaller measures may be read a second time; and, of course, the House will adjourn at Seven, being the King's Birthday.

On Wednesday we shall take Supply—Navy Votes 2, 13, and 14.

On Thursday the Army Vote.

Friday is the last private Members' day.

The Home Rule Bill will be taken on the 9th of June.

Mr. JAMES HOPE

How many days does the right hon. Gentleman propose to allot to the Second Reading of the Home Rule Bill, the Welsh Disestablishment Bill, and the Scottish Temperance Bill?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

That is not a question for the Government.

Mr. JAMES HOPE

Could not the three Bills have been got through in time to enable the Finance Bill to be taken on the 18th or the 19th?

Mr. WALTER LONG

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has not made the announcement of the business for Wednesday and Thursday under some misapprehension? I am informed that the usual negotiations have not taken place. We have been assured that the Local Government Board Vote would be taken on Thursday, and that assurance has been ignored without any consultation in the usual manner by the Chief Government Whip?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

This is the first time I have heard of that, but I understand that it is absolutely urgent that the Army and Navy Vote should be carried on Wednesday and Thursday; otherwise we shall have no money to pay the soldiers and the sailors.