§ Lord R. CECILI beg to ask the Leader of the House a question of which I have not had the opportunity of giving him Private Notice, namely, why the Secretary of State for War is not here to answer questions, and, if he could not come, why he did not ask the newly appointed Financial Secretary to answer the questions; why the Secretary of State for India is not here to answer questions; why the First Commissioner of Works is not here to answer questions; and whether it is essential that these Gentlemen should be absent?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am sorry that I cannot give an answer. I am sorry that 1255 they are not here. I can only repeat what I have said. The position is difficult. The House, we hope, will rise to-day. it was necessary to have a Cabinet, and these Ministers are present at it.
§ Lord R. CECILNot the Financial Secretary.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo; the Cabinet Ministers. I am sorry that arrangements have not been made.
Sir F. HALLIs it not the usual practice in this House, if a Minister be away, to have somebody here to answer in his place? I have an important question to-day addressed to the Secretary of State for India, and nobody is here to answer it.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have no doubt about the last part of my hon. Friend's question. I can only repeat that I regret the Ministers are not here. I suppose that the Ministers thought that this was like a Friday.
Sir F. HALLAnother Minister had the courtesy to send a note round saying he could not be here. Does not my right hon. Friend think that it would be advisable for the Secretary of State for India to treat the House in the same way?
§ Lord R. CECILIs it not the usual practice on the last day of the Session, even when it fall on Friday, for Ministers to be here to answer questions? It has always been the practice.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI can really say nothing more. So far as my recollection goes it is not usual to put questions on the day of Prorogation.