§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Finance Bill, which, I think, we were promised we should have yesterday, has not yet been circulated; and whether he thinks we really ought to be asked to discuss the Financial Resolution on the Home Rule Bill, which is very largely affected by the Finance Bill, without seeing its provisions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not know about the circulation of the Bill, but all the necessary information was supplied with regard to the Irish matter by my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board two nights ago.
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI think not. It is very desirable that we should have the terms of the Finance Bill.
§ Mr. CASSELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the Motion for the Adjournment all that the President of the Local Government Board supplied was the amount of the expenditure; and that the terms of the Clauses of the Finance Bill are extremely important?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI gave what were in effect the terms of the Finance Bill so far as they relate to Ireland. The 1953 provisions are extremely brief and are in substance what I stated in answer to the hon. Member on the adjournment the night before last. I think that when he sees the Finance Bill he will have no cause of complaint.
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINCan the Prime Minister give us any explanation why the Bill has not been circulated?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am told by my right hon. Friend that there are one or two points of detail which are still outstanding and which have delayed the circulation of the Bill.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILWhy was it not possible to circulate the Clauses which deal with Ireland?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy right hon. Friend gave the whole substance of those Clauses two nights ago.
§ Mr. CASSELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I asked for the draft of those Clauses?