§ MR. VERNON HARCOURTsaid, lie wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, before the introduction of any further Bill authorizing the inclosure of Commons and Waste Lands, Her Majesty's Government will bring in a measure giving effect to the recommendation of the Committee which sat last Session as to the amendments required in the existing Law?
§ MR. KNATCHBULL - HUGESSENsaid, in order to show the importance of this Question, he might state that the Inclosure Commissioners had already presented to the Home Office a Bill authorizing the inclosure of between 12,000 and 13,000 acres of commons and waste lands. The Select Committee of last year recommended various alterations in the existing general law, and unanimously adopted a recommendation that no further inclosurcs should be sanctioned by Parliament until those alterations had been made. He had pro-pared a Bill carrying out these recommendations of the Committee, and making other considerable changes in the law. The Bill was in the hands of the draftsman, but, looking to the pressure of business, he could not name an early day for its introduction. He was anxious to do so, but until it was brought in the House would not be asked to sanction any further inclosures. After it was introduced, and before it became law. If there should be any proposals 1367 for inclosing commons or waste lands, with which, from their peculiar circumstances, it was deemed advisable to proceed, he would take care that permission should not be given without the special reason being assigned and full opportunity given for discussion.