HC Deb 16 July 1885 vol 299 cc925-8
MR. JAMES STUART

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he can state to the House on what day the Committee on the Criminal Law Amendment Bill will be taken; and, on what day the proposed Government Amendments to that Bill will be placed on the Paper?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE-QUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has already placed on the Paper the Amendments he proposes to move to this Bill. As regards the day on which the Bill will be taken, I must remind the House that the most pressing measure of legislation to which there is any practical opposition is the Medical Relief Bill. The passing of it is a matter of urgency, being a question of days, and we shall proceed with it before any other measure of legislation. Therefore, if we are able to complete Committee on that Bill, as I hope we may, before Tuesday, the right hon. Gentleman will propose to take the Criminal Law Amendment Bill on Tuesday. On Monday, however, I shall be able to make a further statement.

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer a Question in regard to the Business for tomorrow. There is an important Notice of Motion in the name of the hon. Member for the City of Cork (Mr. Parnell), which stands the third Amendment on going into Committee of Supply. I wish to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the Government intend to use their influence in order, if possible, to obtain precedence for the hon. Member's Amendment; and, if not, what course they intend to take, in order that the House may have an opportunity of giving judgment upon the question raised by the Amendment of the hon. Member for the City of Cork?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

I quite agree with the noble Marquess that it would be desirable that the House should have an opportunity of expressing its judgment on the Amendment of the hon. Member for the City of Cork, and I hope that that opportunity may be afforded to-morrow night, because I observed that the first Notice on the Paper is in the name of the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Callan), and will, probably, not be proceeded with, and it, at any rate, does not involve a Motion. The second Notice, which stands in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Coleraine (Sir Hervey Bruce), my hon. Friend has informed me that it is not his intention to proceed with; therefore, the hon. Member for the City of Cork will have an opportunity to bring forward his Amendment.

MR. PARNELL

In that case I am able to announce that, after consultation with the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Callan), he will give place to me tomorrow; consequently, my Motion will come on.

MR. WEBSTER

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he would undertake not to bring on the University (Scotland) Bill to-night, except at an hour which would allow an opportunity for full discussion; and, also if he would state what course the Government intended to take with regard to proceeding with the Bill this Session?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

Of course, such a Bill could not be taken without full opportunity for discussion; but I am afraid I have to add to that statement an expression of opinion that it will not be possible for us to proceed with it. I understand there is considerable opposition to the measure regarding which the hon. Gentleman asks me, and that the hon. Gentleman is himself the leader of it. I fear it is hardly likely, under these circumstances, that the Bill can proceed any further.

MR. CHILDERS

asked what would be the Business on Monday?

MR. LEWIS

asked whether Committee on the Budget Bill would be taken to-morrow?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,

in reply, said, he did not think it would be possible to take Committee on the Budget to-morrow, as the Irish debate would occupy the evening. The Business on Monday would be the Irish Votes in Supply.

MR. JESSE COLLINGS

asked if the Government were prepared to insert a clause in the Medical Relief Disqualification Bill, directing the overseers to make supplementary lists which should include those electors who had been omitted from the ordinary lists by reason of disqualification through medical relief?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, he was unable to answer the Question, as he was quite unprepared to pass an opinion upon a clause be had never seen; but it would be quite competent for the hon. Member to raise the subject.

MR. ACLAND

said, in Committee on the Bill he would move that the operation of the Bill should be restricted to two years.

In answer to Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH,

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr.W. H. SMITH)

said, the Army Estimates would have to be postponed to later than Tuesday.