BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (SUPPLY, ETC.) (Hansard, 8 March 1920)

§ Sir F. BANBURY
I have to report that the Committee invited to consider the Government proposal as to the Business of the House, consisting of Mr. Acland, Sir F. Banbury, Sir E. Dalziel, Colonel Gretton, Mr. O'Connor, Mr. Hinds, and Colonel Wedgwood, made, and elected, Sir F. Banbury Chairman. The Committee makes the following recomnendations:

1. That the business of Supply have precedence over all other business beginning on Tuesday, 9th March, until the conclusion of business on Thursday, 25th March, excepting on Fridays. That any private business set down for consideration at 8.15 p.m. be taken at 11 p.m.

2. That private Members who have already been successful in the ballot be given priority on Wednesdays after Easter.

3. That the Question should always be put separately on each Vote in Supply.

4. That the following Votes be given priority:—

Class 2, Vote 11.

Unclassified, Vote 20 (Bread Subsidy).

Class 5, Vote 2 (Colonial Services).

Class 7, Vote 3A (Ministry of Health).

Unclassified, Vote 8.4 (Ministry of Transport).

Unclassified, Vote 5 (Ministry of Shipping)

Unclassified, Vote 19 (Canals Compensation).

§ Mr. BONAR LAW
I should like to thank the Committee for the services which they have rendered the House in carrying out the Parliamentary bargain made this afternoon. The House is much indebted to them for having made this arrangement, which I am sure will be satisfactory to all. There is, of course, no Motion to carry out the proposal of this Committee. The recommendation of the House as it was understood this afternoon, and as I am sure the House was pleased to recognise was that by this method we avoid having the guillotine at all. The only Motions put down by the Government will appear on the Order Paper to-morrow, and the object will be to carry out the necessary allocation of private Members' time which is referred to in this Report, and at the same time 1072 to make the allotment to those Members who had got the ballot on private Members' days. There will also be put down a Motion carrying out the suggestion which was made by yourself, Mr. Deputy Speaker, as to Private Bill business at 11 o'clock.

§ Sir D. MACLEAN
I should like, on behalf of Members on this side of the House, to join in an expression of our indebtedness to those of our colleagues who have so expeditiously, so efficiently, and, as I hope and believe with such unanimity' of agreement with the general body of the House, arrived at the conclusion which the right hon. Gentleman has detailed to us. So far as we are concerned, the understanding will be carried out in the letter and in the spirit.

§ Commander BELLAIRS
I agree with the compliments which have been paid to 1073 the Committee, but I would like to point out what the nett result will be. On the Supplementary Estimates we have already had three days' discussion over an amount of £28,000,000. "We are going to have several more days' discussion, and on the main Estimates, the policy Votes, we shall be vigorously cut down in regard to our discussions. I hope therefore the position will be considered that on policy Votes, Army, Navy and Air, we may wish to discuss policy and carry on the discussion to other Votes at a later stage so that the House will not be deprived of what is the main source of expenditure, not such smaller 1074 sums as the £28,000,000 of Supplementary Estimates, but the very much larger sums which are affected by the whole Army, Air and Navy Estimates.

Sir H. DALZIEL
The hon. and gallant Gentleman will have an opportunity on the Consolidated Fund Bill and Vote on Account to raise every possible question. As it stands, I think it will work out that every question in which the hon. and gallant Gentleman is interested will have an opportunity of discussion.

Day.	Table.	Time suggested for proceedings to be brought to a conclusion.
Tuesday, 9th March	Supplementary Estimates	—
Wednesday, 10th March	Supplementary Estimates	11 p.m.
Thursday, 11th March	Motion, That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair (on going into Committee of Supply on the Air Force Estimates). Votes A and Votes 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Air Force Estimates in Committee of Supply	11 p.m.
Monday, 15th March	Civil Services and Revenue Departments Vote on Account in Committee of Supply	—
Tuesday, 16th March	Report of the Civil Services and Revenue Departments Vote on Account	8.15 p.m.
	Report of all outstanding Supplementary Estimates	—
Wednesday, 17th March	Report of all outstanding Supplementary Estimates	7.15 p.m.
	Motion, That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair (on going into Committee of Supply on the Navy Estimates)	11 p.m.
Thursday, 18th March	Vote A and Vote I of the Navy Estimates in Committee of Supply. Proceedings necessary for the House to resolve itself into Committee of Ways and Means and to dispose of Resolutions proposed in that Committee	11 p.m.
Monday, 22nd March	Motion, That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair (on going into Committee of Supply on Army Estimates) and Vote A of the Army	11 p.m.
Tuesday, 23rd March	Report of outstanding Resolution. of Committee of Supply and of Resolutions of Committee of Ways and Means	11 p.m.
Wednesday, 24th March	Consolidated Fund Bill, Second Reading	11 p.m.
Thursday, 25th March	Consolidated Fund Bill, remaining stages	11 p.m.