HC Deb 25 July 1918 vol 108 cc2153-6

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do sit To-morrow."

Mr. GULLAND

May I ask what business will be taken to-morrow?

Mr. BONAR LAW

Trading With the Enemy (Amendment) Bill, Committee, and the Report stage of the Financial Resolution to which the Committee has just agreed.

Mr. GULLAND

Not the Supplementary Estimates?

Mr. BONAR LAW

They cannot be taken to-morrow. They were put down for Tuesday.

Mr. GULLAND

I understood that they were postponed to be taken first to-morrow. The right hon Gentleman to-day announced other Supply business for Tuesday—no fewer than three Votes—and that does not leave much time for the Supplementary Estimates. I am sure the Committee generally understood that the Supplementary Estimates were adjourned till to-morrow, and I know the hon. Member for South Donegal (Mr. Swift MacNeill), in moving to report Progress, thought so—indeed, he said so to me.

Mr. BONAR LAW

I am sorry if there be a misunderstanding. When the Supplementary Estimates were called my Noble Friend (Lord E. Talbot) said "Tuesday," and I thought that was the understanding.

Mr. GULLAND

I was keeping my ears open, and I heard that the Report of the Financial Resolution on the Education (Scotland) Bill was put down for Tuesday.

Mr. HOGGE

Could not the right hon. Gentleman take the Supplementary Estimates to-morrow? We stopped here to-night in order to finish them. The right hon. Gentleman hopes to adjourn for the Summer Recess on 8th August, and the business he announced at the close of questions to-day carries us over the whole of next week without touching the Vote of Credit, for which he requires five days. If my right hon. Friend wants us to assist him in reducing this period of the Session and getting to the Summer Recess, I think he ought to take the Supplementary Estimates to-morrow.

Mr. GULLAND

May I say again that I distinctly heard the report of the Vote that the Government got to-night put down for Tuesday, and I thought the other Votes were put down for to-morrow. There was a mere whisper from the Treasury Bench, and I had the assurance from the Noble Lord, and thought it was clear that the other Votes were put down for the first thing to-morrow. I am sure that that was the understanding in the mind of the hon. Member for South Donegal, because he asked me, and I said distinctly it would be taken to-morrow.

Mr. PRATT. (Lord of the Treasury)

When the Report of the Supplementary Estimates was called I said "Tuesday," and when Mr. Speaker said "Committee to sit again?" I said "Tuesday," in a perfectly distinct voice, and Mr. Speaker repeated "Tuesday" after me.

Lord E. TALBOT (Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)

My right hon. Friend said clearly that if we did not get the Trading With the Enemy Bill to-day, we should have to sit to-morrow in order to complete it.

Mr. BOOTH

The hon. and learned Member who moved to report Progress said distinctly that he would come tomorrow. I am not suggesting that there was any mistake on the Front Bench, but I know what was in hon. Members' minds.

Sir G. YOUNGER

Is there any use in discussing this matter further now?

Mr. SPEAKER

I believe the Order has been put down for Tuesday.

Question put, and agreed to.

The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.

It being after Half-past Eleven of the clock, Mr. SPEAKER adjourned the House without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order, until To-morrow, pursuant to the Resolution of the House this day.

Adjourned at Twenty-three minutes before Twelve o'clock.