HC Deb 08 July 1875 vol 225 cc1208-9

Order for Second Reading read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

MR. FAWCETT

said, that this Bill, the incubation of which had taken six weeks, was only printed last Sunday. What was his surprise to find that it was word for word the same as the Bill of last year. It repealed all previous Acts of Parliament providing for the payment of the police out of the Imperial Exchequer; but he could not understand on what principle these contributions were to be made for the future. It appeared to him that everything was to be left to the Treasury. He wished to ask two questions—Why this Bill consisted only of a single clause, and what provisions were to be substituted for those which were repealed?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

regretted that the hon. Member was not in his place the other day to hear the explanations he gave on the subject. Heretofore, the Treasury had been restricted from paying a larger proportion than one-fourth towards police expenses. In dealing with the subject, it was necessary to consider whether further legislation was not necessary as to the mode in which the police were paid, and the conditions on which the subsidy should be given. Last year the Government found that they were not in a position to deal with the subject, and a suspensory Bill was passed for one year. On the 27th of May, in the present year, he moved for leave to introduce a Bill which he had prepared in concert with his right hon. Friend (Mr. Cross). It would, however, have led to considerable discussion, and they came to the conclusion that, looking to the state of Public Business, there was no prospect of dealing with the matter satisfactorily this year. He would, therefore, ask the House to continue this suspensory legislation for one year longer, with the intention on the part of the Government of dealing with the subject next year. The Government had proposed—and the House had given its assent by the vote of the other day— that the Treasury should be authorized to contribute an additional fourth towards the pay and clothing of the police.

MR. FAWCETT,

after this explanation, would not oppose the second reading, on the undertaking that, next year, the Government would propose a definite scheme.

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

said, the Government would endeavour to deal with the question next year.

Motion agreed, to.

Bill read a second time, and committed for Monday next.