§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, with reference to the conversation which passed yesterday, your Lordships will remember that the Government 752 suggested that one day, early next week, should be allotted to an Irish discussion—I do not mean to say that the Irish discussion should take the whole of the sitting, but that it should take place on an early day next week—but a certain ambiguity was left as to which day it should be. I do not know whether my noble friend who is leading the House can now inform us which day he would prefer. Personally, I think the general convenience would seem to indicate Tuesday of next week as the better day. It must be either Monday or Tuesday, and Tuesday would not interfere with the other arrangements of the Government.
THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD)My Lords, we are entirely in your Lordships' hands in this matter, and only desire to serve the general convenience of the House. If I may express a preference, it is strongly that your Lordships should follow the programme adumbrated by the noble Marquess. It is understood, I believe, that a statement on Irish affairs will be made in another place on Monday, and your Lordships, if you discuss the subject on Tuesday, will have the advantage of reading what has passed elsewhere on the previous day. It would also have a very great advantage in that it would not unduly congest the latest stages of the Allotments Bill. I take it, therefore, that, if your Lordships generally agree, we will settle the programme as follows:—Monday, the Report stage of the Allotments Bill; Tuesday, the first or a very early occasion for discussing Irish matters; Wednesday, the final stages of the Allotments Bill. I have a Motion lower down on the Paper which deals with business, but which I do not think would in any way interfere with that programme.