Mr. J. RAMSAY MacDONALDMay I ask the Prime Minister a question about business? Perhaps I had better put two together for his convenience: First of all, whether he has considered if it is possible to give more time for a discussion on the Report stage of the Budget Resolutions, and, secondly, what business he proposes to take today?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)We have been doing our best to consult the convenience of the House, and I understand that there is general assent to securing the first four Orders on the Paper today, and including in them the Third Reading of the Gold Standard Bill. That leaves the way clear tomorrow, and we propose to start tomorrow upon the Report stage of the Budget Resolutions, which I hope it may be possible to bring to a conclusion on Thursday night. Of course, the Eleven o'Clock Rule is automatically suspended in the case of the Report Stage of those Resolutions. That being the case, I have no intention of moving the Motion which stands in my name, to suspend the Eleven o'Clock Rule today for the Gold Standard Bill, which was only put down to ensure the passage of the necessary stages of that Bill.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hope of getting the remainder of the Report stages of the Budget Resolutions on Thursday may not be fulfilled—that there is no pledge, that is to say, that he shall get them so far as some Members are concerned?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI quite agree that there is no pledge, and the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain Benn) will remember that I said "I hope."