PUBLIC BUSINESS.

HC Deb 28 March 1851 vol 115 cc720-1

MR. REYNOLDS

stated, that, during the greater part of the Session 1848, a Select Committee sat upon the subject of Ministers' Money in Ireland. They examined several dignitaries of the Protestant Church, who were favourable to the abolition of that impost, on a substitute being provided; and it was understood Government intended to introduce a Bill for providing that substitute. In pursuance of notice, he would ask, at what time did the Government intend to introduce any measure with a view to the abolition of Ministers' Money? That money amounted to 16,000l. a year, out of which his constituents paid 2,000l. a year; and, therefore, he thought a sufficient case was made out for the alteration of its assessment.

LORD J. RUSSELL

Sir, if it be now convenient to the House, instead of answering the question of the hon. Member, I will state the course I propose to take for the conduct of Public Business; and, in doing so, I shall afford an answer to the question. It is absolutely necessary that we should proceed to-day to the consideration of the Army Estimates; and that the House should receive the report of the Committee of Supply to-morrow. I propose to go into Committee of Supply, on Monday, on the Army and Ordnance estimates. On Friday, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will state the alterations he proposes to make in the financial arrangements; and on the same day he will move, in Committee of Ways and Means, a Resolution in respect to the continuance of the Income Tax. We can then go into debate on the Motion of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Stamford, unless the right hon. Gentleman should think it inconvenient to do so, at a late hour in the evening, when we can take on Monday evening the debate on that Motion. The only days when the Orders of the Day take precedence, at the disposal of the Government, before Easter, will be applied to the financial arrangements and the remaining estimates. I very much regret that, in consequence of this necessity, I am unable to proceed, as I should wish to do, immediately after the second reading, with the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. I cannot proceed with it before Easter; and I stated the other night, that I should not take it the first Order day after the Recess. The first Order day will be on Monday, the 28th of April. I do not wish to press the matter upon that day; but I think it will be perfectly fair to take it the next Order day. I propose, therefore, to take the Committee on the Ecclesiastical Titles Billon Friday, the 2nd of May. With regard to some measures of which I have given notice, one of the most important which I stated I should bring forward in the course of the present Session, is the Bill for the abolition of the office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. It appears that, upon the proposal for the abolition of that office, which was made last year, strong feelings have been excited, and the general feeling in Ireland now is favourable to its continuance. My opinions of the advantages to be obtained by the empire, and more especially by Ireland, by the discontinuance of the office, remain unaltered. Seeing the important business to come on, it will make it late in the Session before the Bill can be introduced; and, seeing the opinion now prevailing, I do not intend to propose that measure this Session. With regard to the question which the hon. Gentleman the Member for the city of Dublin has asked, as to the Bill for the abolition of Ministers' Money, it was my intention, as I stated at the beginning of the Session, to bring in a Bill for the purpose; and if I find that there is time to introduce that measure, I shall introduce it. But I am not prepared to fix the time, or to say absolutely that it will be in my power to introduce that measure this Session. This is my statement with respect to the course of public business. I should, however, say, that, when the House resolves itself into a Committee on the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, and has again that matter under consideration, it will be desirable to proceed with the remaining stages of that Bill, and finish a matter of such importance as soon as possible after going through Committee.