HC Deb 11 July 1916 vol 84 c206
Sir E. CARSON

Can the Prime Minister state what will be the business for Thurs-day, and also when he will make his promised statement upon the questions of Registration and Franchise and the Parliament Act?

The PRIME MINISTER

On Thursday we will take the Third Reading of the Finance Bill, and, if time permit, the Committee stage of the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Bill. With regard to the second part of the question, I will answer to-morrow.

Sir F. BANBURY

What business is it proposed to take to-day, if any, beyond Supply?

The PRIME MINISTER

Only the first three Orders. The first, I think, is formal; the second is Supply; and the third is an Expenses Committee.

Sir F. BANBURY

May I point out that there are ten pages of Amendments to the Acquisition of Land Bill? It will not be very convenient to take that after the Third Reading of the Finance Bill, as the time will probably be short. As the House takes a great deal of interest in that Bill I think it would be only fair that we should have a day on which it was the first Order, and not the fag end of a day after other important business has been disposed of.

The PRIME MINISTER

I will look into that and reply to-morrow.

Mr. KING

The Government have adopted the rather unusual course of put-ting down Supply as the second Order. That means, I suppose, that this cannot count as one of the allotted days of Supply. Does that mean that we shall have an extra day on to the Session waiting here because we have not been able to count the Local Government Board Vote as an allotted day?

The PRIME MINISTER

It is necessary to have this Resolution in Ways and Means in order that we may have the Report stage of the Finance Bill to-morrow. I believe it is an agreed Resolution.