§ 4.0 P.M.
§ Sir FREDERICK BANBURYI desire to make a personal explanation on behalf of the Select Committee on National Expenditure and of myself. The Select Committee on National Expenditure, feeling that the Vote last Tuesday might be considered as a reflection on them, and might add to the difficulties of their position, have passed the following resolution:
That the Select Committee on National Expenditure, having carefully considered the situation which has arisen in consequence of the publication of their Third Report, and having reported the Evidence to the House, have requested their Chairman to take steps to obtain a day early in the Autumn Session for the House to discuss the Report after reading the Evidence, when the Evidence will have been officially published, and to 46 ask that the Government Whips should not be put on should a "Division take place.That is the personal explanation which I desire to make on behalf of the Committee and myself as their Chairman. I should like to add a request to the Leader of the House to give a day to the consideration of the Report at the beginning of the Autumn Session, by which time the evidence on which the Committee acted will be officially published, and I desire to ask hon. Members to read the evidence.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThis subject was very fully discussed last week, but it is quite possible that the evidence may put a new aspect upon it, and in any case I should desire if it were possible to fall in with the wishes of the Select Committee. I think, however, we must await the publication of the evidence, and after we have seen it I shall be glad to give a definite answer.