Mr. RUNCIMANMay I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to ask the House to sit on Friday, and, if so, what business will then be taken?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes, Sir; we do intend to ask the House to sit on Friday, when it is hoped that Mr. Speaker will be moved out of the Chair on the Civil Service Estimates.
Sir H. DALZIELWhen will the Consolidated Fund Bill be taken?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWTo-morrow.
§ Mr. DILLONI desire to ask the Leader of the House two questions—first, what business he proposes to take to-night, and how late he desires to ask the House to sit; secondly, what is to be the business to-morrow, and is it proposed to put as the first Order to-morrow the Russian Resolution?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes, Sir; the proposal is to put the Russian Resolution down as first Order to-morrow. I hope that whatever discussion is thought necessary, it will not be of a nature which would take away from the value of the Resolution, the object of which is to give encouragement to the Provisional Government in Russia.
As to to-night, the first two Orders must be obtained to-night, so that we may introduce the Consolidated Fund Bill. It is not expected that we shall have a late Sitting, and I hope we shall not.
§ Mr. DILLONDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to take any other business to-night?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWe want to have the first four Orders.
§ Sir NORVAL HELMEWill the War Pensions Bill be taken?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes, I hope so.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo, Sir.
§ Mr. MOONEYIs there any precedent for moving Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on the Civil Service Estimates on a Friday?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am not aware whether there is any precedent, but I do not think that it is an inconvenient course.
§ Mr. S. MacNEILLHow many precedents has the right hon. Gentleman created?
§ Mr. BILLINGMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman when he proposes to give the House an opportunity of debating the recommendations of Mr. Speaker's Conference with regard to franchise reform?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI hope to arrange for it at an early date. I am waiting until I see the form of the Resolution on the Paper.
§ Mr. BILLINGHas the right hon. Gentleman taken any step to facilitate the formation of a new register, as the present one is now three or four years old?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat does not arise.
§ Mr. WARDLEWill that Resolution be taken before Easter?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI hope so.
§ Mr. HOGGEAs to the Sitting on Friday and the moving of Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on the Civil Service Estimates, shall we rise at 5 o'clock?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes, Sir.
Ordered, "That the proceedings on Government Business be not interrupted this day under the Standing Order (Sittings of the House), and may be entered upon at any hour although opposed."—[Mr. Bonar Law]