§ Sir E. CARSONMight I ask the Prime Minister what will be the business for to-morrow?
§ The PRIME MINISTERTo-morrow we shall take the Second Reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill, and perhaps some other Bills. On Thursday, we shall take the Committee stage of the Consolidated Fund Bill, and the Acquisition of Land Bill.
§ Sir E. CARSONOn what day will the Government take the Committee stage of the Bill for the appointment of a Special Commission with regard to Mesopotamia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI had hoped to have got the Bill through all its stages to-day. I do not think the House would like to take the Second Reading until they knew the names of the Commissioners. I had hoped to be able to give those names this afternoon, but some difficulties of communication have disclosed themselves, and, though we have got most of the names, I am not in a position to state the whole of them. If you discuss the Bill before you know the names, you are really discussing it in the dark. Therefore, what I propose to do is to-morrow to give the names immediately after the conclusion of questions, and then to take the Second Reading of the Bill, and, if the House will agree, the other stages.
§ Colonel AUBREY HERBERTWill the Government be prepared to consider suggestions from the House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERCertainly.
§ Mr. R. MCNEILLWhen does the right hon. Gentleman propose to give the explanation of the Paris Economic Conference resolutions, which he said he would make last week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe have been rather thrust out of what we intended by unforeseen events. During next week, certainly.
§ Mr. PETOWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advantage of allowing the House to see the Amendments to the Special Commission Bill on the Paper, so 1520 that it may be properly considered, instead of having the Committee stage immediately after the Second Reading?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am entirely in the hands of the House. I understood that the wish of the House was that this Bill should go through with the utmost possible expedition, in order that the Inquiry may be started at once. Of course, if the House desires further time, we will give it.
§ Sir E. CARSONMight I ask an unusual question which has a great deal of public importance—whether the right hon. Gentleman has consulted anyone but members of the Government about the names?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can only speak for myself. So far as I am concerned, the answer is, No. Of course, we have consulted among ourselves.
Sir H. DALZIELIn view of the importance that is attached to this Inquiry, is it not possible to give a longer interval between the announcement of the names and the Second Reading?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, I am entirely in the hands of the House, and will give another day if it is desired, but I thought that the House wished to get the Bill through as early as possible. If the House requires extra time it can have it.
Sir H. DALZIELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we have been asking for this Inquiry for twelve months, and we have only just had the announcement of it, so that one day will not make any difference?
§ Mr. LEIF JONESDoes the Bill confer any powers which are not possessed by a Select Committee of this House?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, it does.
§ Mr. BOOTHWill my right hon. Friend, if possible, announce the names before the rising of the House to-night?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid that it cannot be done until to-morrow.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAm I to understand that a day will elapse between the announcement of the names and the House being asked to pass the Bill through all its stages?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the House so wishes, certainly.
§ Sir F. BANBURYMay I take it that the Government will not take more to-day than the requisite Motions with regard to finance—that is, the Report of Ways and Means and the Reports of the Vote of Credit?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAnd the Reports of Supply.
§ Sir F. BANBURYIf we get these various Reports we will take nothing after eleven?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe propose to take—but we shall not take the first Order—No. 2 down to 9 (Reports of Supply).
§ Mr. DAVID MASONIncluding 9?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes.
§ Ordered, "That the Proceedings on Government Business be not interrupted this night under the Standing Order (Sittings of the House), and may be entered upon at any hour, though opposed."—[The Prime Minister.]