§ Mr. ASQUITHWill the right hon. Gentleman now make a statement as to the business for next week, and as to the Adjournment?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWOn Monday we propose to take the Resolution on proportional representation, and if time permit to take the Post Office Vote, and other measures;
On Tuesday, the Finance Bill—Second Reading;
On Wednesday, Supply—the Board of Trade Vote.
As regards the Adjournment, as I stated yesterday, we had hoped it would have been possible to introduce a Home Rule Bill before the Adjournment. We find, partly owing to the difficulty of the question and partly owing to our being so much occupied with other matters, that it is not possible, and we have decided to propose to the. House that we Adjourn on Thursday next until Tuesday, the 28th instant.
§ Sir CHARLES HENRYWill my right hon. Friend say what stages of the Finance Bill will be taken on Tuesday?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWOnly Second Reading.
§ Mr. HOLTCan my right hon. Friend explain what will be the nature of the proceedings on Monday on the Resolution relating to the Representation of the People Bill?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have been asked by my right hon. Friend to reply to this question. I understand the course of the proceedings will be as follows: The Motion on the Paper will be moved by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Education, in his private capacity. It is very likely, I understand, that that Motion will be of a general nature on which a general Debate may take place, and, of course, the nature of further proceedings will depend on the decision of the House.
§ Sir G. YOUNGERWhen will the terms of the Resolution be placed on the Paper?
§ Sir G. CAVEThey are on the Paper already.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWhen will the Order in Council for Conscription in Ireland be put before the House, or is it to be postponed till the Second Reading of the Home Rule Bill?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe intention of the Government, as has already been explained to the House, is that the Order in Council will not be laid until the Home Rule Bill has been introduced. That is still our intention.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs this House to understand that the Home Rule Bill will be the first business after the reassembling of Parliament?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI will announce next week what the first business will be after the Recess.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right hon. Gentleman say before the Recess when the Home Rule Bill will be taken?
§ Mr. KINGCan he say definitely that it is the intention of the Government to introduce at the same time both the Home Rule Bill and the draft Order in Council?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have nothing further to say than I have already said on that matter.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEMay I ask the Leader of the House, arising out of the business on Monday, with regard to proportional representation, whether the Government will state its proposals then with regard to election expenses?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWhatever proposals will be necessary will, I think, be dependent upon the carrying of this Resolution. Until a decision is taken it is not possible to say.
§ Mr. BURDETT-COUTTSWill it not be necessary to have a new Act of Parliament to alter the scale of expenses if the Resolution is carried?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI believe such an Act will be necessary, but the question will not arise until the House has arrived at a decision on this Resolution.
§ Ordered, "That the Proceedings on the Motion relative to Ministerial Statements, on the Post Office (No. 2) Bill, on Horse Breeding [Expenses] (No. 2) Report, and on the Horse Breeding Bill have precedence this day of the Business of Supply."—[Mr. Bonar Law]