BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 24 July 1918)

§ Mr. DILLON
I should like to ask the Leader of the House whether he can now say if he will give time for a discussion of the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for East Mayo [Government of Ireland]?

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
Yes, Sir. I propose that the discussion should take place on Monday next.

§ Mr. DILLON
I ought to have mentioned to the right hon. Gentleman, from communications which have reached me, that I fear it will be practically impossible to conclude the discussion on one day. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh, oh!"]

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
At this stage of the Session I should have thought it was hardly reasonable to ask for more than one day. I hope that one day will be found sufficient for the discussion.

§ Mr. DILLON
On a point of Order. May I remind the right hon. Gentleman that we, the Irish party, have not taken any of the two or three days to which we were entitled for Supply?

An HON. MEMBER
Where were you?

§ Mr. DILLON
Well, we are here now.

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
I can assure the House that the Government have no desire to burke discussion on this subject—not a bit! If they found it necessary, we would consider the proposal of the hon. Gentleman to have another day. I would point out, however, that as regards the two days of Supply referred to by the hon. Gentleman, that that really does not affect the issue, because other subjects would probably have been taken. Of course, it is much easier to make arrangements at the early part of the Session than it is now.

Mr. RUNCIMAN
May I ask what Orders will be taken to-day, and whether the House will sit on Friday?

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
We hope to take all the Orders down to No. 8 (Naval Prize Bill—Committee), inclusive, and, if possible, Order No. 12 (Corn Production (Amendment) Bill [Lords]—Committee).
I am afraid it will be necessary for the House to sit on Friday. If, however, we have good fortune with our Bills, that may not be necessary.

§ Sir F. BANBURY
I note that the Vote for the Ministry of Information appears as a Supplementary Vote. This is the first time that the Vote for this Department has been before the House. I am Chairman of a Sub-committee, and this afternoon we have been dealing with the matter. As the Report will be before the Committee on Tuesday, we may have the Report printed and in the hands of the Members of this House on Wednesday. May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will not, therefore, postpone the taking of this Vote until Wednesday or Thursday of next week, when the House will have had the advantage of seeing the Report of the Committee?

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
I think there is a difficulty about doing this which I cannot deal with on the spur of the moment. If it is to be included, as I think it must be, in the Consolidated Fund Bill, then it can be postponed. I shall have to look into the matter.

§ Mr. KING
Is it intended to set up the Select Committee which stands on the Order Paper to-day (Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill)? It was not mentioned by the right, hon. Gentleman. There is likely to be some opposition to it.

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
It is proposed, I think, to set it up. I do not think, however, that we are likely to have any opposition.

§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL
In reference to the Vote for the Ministry of Information, I think it would possibly be for the convenience of Members of the House if the Vote could be taken after the Report of the Sub-committee, to which my right hon. Friend has referred, is available. So long as it is taken before Supply is completed would not that be in time?

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
That is really a question which I cannot answer on the spur of the moment. We shall look into it, and it will be mentioned later in the day.

Mr. RUNCIMAN
Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the Vote comes on almost at once? I understand the Government War Obligations Bill will take a very short time?

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
It is the last of the Supplementary Estimates. There will be plenty of time after the others to mention our decision.

§ Mr. LEIF JONES
Is it intended to make a statement as to the proposed expenditure upon the Ministry of Information? The right hon. Gentleman has, I think, promised to the House that in every case—as in this—where a Token Vote is put down that he would, by means of a White Paper, or some other method, bring to the notice of the House the intended expenditure of the Department.

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
I am sure my right hon. Friend will understand that I cannot answer this question without notice. When the subject comes up all that will be answered.

§ Mr. FRANCE
Will the Admiralty Vote for Shipbuilding (No. 8) be taken next week?

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
I understand it will be asked for next week, and, if so, it will be put down.

§ Sir F. BANBURY
May I point out to the right hon. Gentleman that the Report will contain references to the estimates made by the Department which are considered of very vital importance?

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
I cannot say more than I have said. Obviously we cannot now discuss the question.