§ MR. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government have taken into consideration the large proportion of time which has been taken up this Session with what is termed Private Business; and, if so, whether they will consider the advisability of proposing some system of "Devolution" in order to conserve the time of the House for Imperial Legislation?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)The Government are sensible of the importance of the question referred to by the hon. Member; but he must be aware that a measure of "devolution," as he terms it, proposed by the hon. Member for the Partick Division of Lanarkshire 'Mr. Craig-Sellar), was met by determined 720 opposition; and that a Motion to appoint a Committee to consider the whole question was blocked by an hon. Gentleman opposite. We hope, however, to give the matter, during the Recess, the serious consideration which it deserves.