HC Deb 12 April 1918 vol 104 cc1831-2

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do sit to-morrow."— [Lord E. Talbot]

Mr. KING

Is the Motion made that the House should sit at twelve o'clock tomorrow?

Mr. BILLING

Is it proposed to take to-morrow the questions which are on the Paper to-day or to postpone them until Monday?

Mr. SPEAKER

I suppose that they will follow the ordinary rule. I do not think that any other arrangement was come to with regard to that.

Mr. BILLING

Is it proposed to sit until eleven o'clock to-morrow night?

Mr. SPEAKER

I understand that the arrangement with regard to the sittings to-day and to-morrow was come to in order to provide the House with more time for the discussion of the Military Service Bill.

Mr. HEALY

As Ministers have fixed the sitting for twelve o'clock to-day and done enough to inconvenience us by obliging us to come down, do you not think that out of respect to the dignity of the House of Commons, Ministers should set a good example to the House?

Mr. SPEAKER

The rule has always been that Ministers are not here at a Friday morning sitting to answer questions, but during the last year or two there has been an alteration. A great many questions have been asked and Ministers have come down, but previously that was not done except by special arrangement.

Mr. HEALY

To-day was specially fixed for the discussion on Irish Conscription. There was a number of matters on which information was required beforehand, and no Minister connected with Ireland was in his place.

Sir J. D. REES

Should I be in order in asking the Minister of National Service a question of which I have given him private notice, as he is in his place?

Mr. SPEAKER

That would be a violation of the arrangement, and would put the hon. Member in a better position than other hon. Members who have given notice. I think that those who have not got questions on the Paper ought not to press them to-day.

Sir J. D. REES

I only ventured to ask the question.

Mr. SPEAKER

I have already reached the point of putting the Question, "That this House do sit to-morrow."

Mr. FIELD

Will the questions which have already been put down be answered in the usual course?

Mr. SPEAKER

In the absence of any other direction, the replies to questions will follow the ordinary course and will be handed in.

Mr. BILLING

Is it possible, by giving notice at the Table, to have questions postponed; and may I ask whether, having regard to the importance of this Bill, we should not expect the Leader of the House-to be here to-day to take part in the discussion.

Mr. SPEAKER

I am not responsible for the Leader of the House: probably he is attending the War Cabinet.

Question put, and agreed to.