§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)asked the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Ireland, Whether he was aware that the evidence taken before the Select Committee on the Municipal Regulation (Constabulary, &c) (Belfast) Bill had not been circulated; and whether he would use his influence to have it placed in the hands of Members as soon as possible?
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HAKMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet), in reply, said, he was not aware that it had not been circulated; but he would make inquiries on the subject.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury or the Chief Secretary for Ireland to include in the statement of Business some information as to the course the Government proposed to adopt in relation to the Distressed Unions (Ireland) Bill. The Government had Notice for three weeks that the Irish Members would oppose this Bill to the uttermost; and it was now desirable that they should have some definite answer as to what course they proposed to take with regard to it.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)said, their view of the Bill, as the House was aware, was that it was one of great importance to meet an immediate crisis in a particular locality, and if the hon. Gentleman and his Friends below the Gangway took the responsibility of blocking it the Government 957 could not help it; nut so long as there was a possibility of its being passed they would not remove it from the Paper.