§ Colonel GRETTON(by Private Notice) asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will state to the House the procedure which will be adopted to carry out his proposal that the decision whether the Home Rule Bill shall be considered by a Standing Committee upstairs, or by a Committee of the whole House, shall be postponed until the House meets after Easter?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWAfter the Recess we shall ask the House to set up a Committee to allocate the time for the remaining stages of the Government of Ireland Bill. If, as I hope, an agreement be reached with the general consent of the House, the Committee stage of the Bill will be taken downstairs. In any event, the House will lose nothing by not taking a Division on the question after the Second Beading of the Bill, as I have given an undertaking that the House shall be given the opportunity of voting, of course on the understanding that there will be no discussion, before the Bill is proceeded with upstairs.
§ Colonel GRETTONAm I to understand that, in the event of agreement being reached, the Government will make a Motion to keep the Bill downstairs? In the event of no agreement, will opportunity be given for hon. Members to bring a private Motion?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWBills are frequently kept downstairs, and if agreement is reached we shall bring that Motion. If we are not able to reach an agreement we shall give the House the same opportunity of dividing as they would have on the Second Reading of the Bill.