HC Deb 28 June 1889 vol 337 cc1018-9
SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can now give any indication when or in what order with regard to other Bills he proposes to proceed with the Local Government (Scotland) Bill?

MR. COSSHAM

May I ask when the Drainage Bills are likely to be effectively put down?

* MR. W. H. SMITH

In all probability the Irish Bills will be taken on Monday. I am not able to give an answer with regard to the Local Government (Scotland) Bill. It is my desire to meet the wishes of the House as far as I can, and the Bills will ho proceeded with as early as possible.

SIR G. CAMPBELL

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House any assurance that these Bills will be proceeded with, and that there is no truth in the rumour that the Government intend to shunt them on account of the objection of some of their supporters to free education?

* MR. W. H. SMITH

I really do not wish to waste the time of the House by discussing rumours, or by even satisfying the alarms of the hon. Gentleman. Surely the hon. Gentleman has been long enough in Parliament to know what value to put upon such rumours.

SIR G. CAMPBELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us the assurance that these Bills are to be pushed through this Session?

No answer was given.

MR. CHILDERS (Edinburgh, S.)

Are we to understand that the Tithes Bill is to be taken before the Local Government (Scotland) Bill?

* MR. W. H. SMITH

No. Sir; I cannot give that assurance. Further progress must be made with the Bills now before the House before I can say precisely what course will be taken.

MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)

Is it still the intention of the right hon. Gentleman to proceed with the Committee on Royal Grants?

* MR. W. H. SMITH

I must ask the hon. Gentleman to postpone that question until Monday.

SIR W. LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)

Is it the intention of the Government to discharge the Order for the Sugar Convention Bill on Thursday?

* MR. H. SMITH

It is not very important whether I deal with that Bill next Thursday or on any other Thursday. It will be taken in the usual Course.