§ MR. M'LARENsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will bring in a Bill to carry into effect the Report of the Royal Commissioners appointed in December, 1858—
To inquire and report how far it may be desirable and practicable to institute an equitable system of Assessment in lieu of the present mode of maintaining the Public Roads in Scotland by Tolls and Statute Labour,and which Report was made to Her Majesty in December, 1859, recommending such an equitable system of assessment in lieu of the present system of tolls and statute labour? Nothing would meet with more general acceptance in Scotland than a measure giving effect to the Report. Some counties had already abolished tolls, and the consequence was that, while certain counties were free from them, surrounding counties still charged tolls, some of which were exorbitant.
§ MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, that until the Question appeared on the Paper he had never considered it with reference to the introduction of a Bill, and of course in the interval he had not been able to consider the matter at all. It appeared that a Bill was brought in by the late Lord Advocate, different in character from that which was recommended in the Report. That Bill was submitted to a Select Committee, but did not receive the assent of the House. In 1865, also, the noble Lord the Member for Haddingtonshire (Lord Elcho) brought in a Bill, which was also refused by the House; and since then separate counties had adopted the measure by private Acts. He would, however, take an opportunity of consulting his Colleague at the Home Office (the Earl of Belmore). At the same time he could not now make any promise on the subject.
§ Motion agreed to.