§ 46. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Prime whether the Bill to amend the Government of Ireland Bill will be introduced into the House of Commons or the House of Lords; and whether he will state on what date such Bill will be introduced?
§ 47. Lord ROBERT CECILalso asked the Prime Minister when he proposes to introduce the amending Bill to the Government of Ireland Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)It is the intention of the Government that this Bill should be introduced in the first instance in another place, I am not able to name the date.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILWhy do the Government propose to introduce this Bill in the House of Lords and not in the House of Commons?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will explain that in the course of the Debate.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the amending Bill be introduced in the other House before the House of Lords has considered the Bill as it leaves the House of Commons?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is a matter which the other House will have to determine.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill the right hon. Gentleman either introduce the Bill or explain the substance of it before the Whitsuntide Recess?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have said the Bill will be introduced in the House of Lords. [HON. MEMBERS "Will it be before the Whitsuntide Recess?]
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the Prime Minister inform the House whether he has received from any representative body in Ireland any petition, memorial, resolution or request of any sort for an amending Bill excluding Ulster, or any part of Ulster, from the Home Rule Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot say I have.
§ Mr. G. FABERWill the House of Commons have an opportunity of becoming aware of the contents of the amending Bill before the Third Reading of the Government of Ireland Bill passes in the House of Commons?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat matter will be raised in the Debate on the Bill.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIf it is to be explained in Debate, may I ask the right bon. Gentleman if he or some of his colleagues propose to open the discussion so that we may be aware of the terms when the discussion begins?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir. I do not propose to do that. I think it is a matter which can be discussed in Debate.
§ Mr. BONAR LAW (at a later stage)May I ask the Prime Minister whether he will not reconsider the answer he gave a little while ago in regard to the amending 2121 Bill? Does it not appear to him unfair that the House of Commons should be asked to discuss the Third Reading of the Home Rule Bill without a knowledge of what the real proposals of the Government are?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have already said that in the considered opinion of the Government the amending Bill ought to be introduced in another place. It would be contrary to all Parliamentary precedent to anticipate such a statement at this stage.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWas I mistaken in thinking that the right hon. Gentleman said that the terms would be mentioned in the Debate?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir, I did not say that. What I said or intended was that we will give reasons in the course of the Debate for introducing the amending Bill.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs it not also contrary to all Parliamentary precedent to introduce an amending Bill in another place to a Bill we are discussing in the House of Commons?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am sorry I cannot say what is or what is not contrary to Parliamentary precedent. The circumstances of the case are very exceptional.
§ Lord HUGH CECILCan the right hon. Gentleman state why he desires to maintain such strict secrecy until we have read the Home Rule Bill the third time?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe will have an opportunity in the course of the Debate of giving our reasons.
§ Lord HUGH CECILWill you use the opportunity?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes.
§ Lord HUGH CECILWill the right hon. Gentleman give the explanation now?