HC Deb 09 December 1890 vol 349 cc768-70

Considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Motion made, and Question proposed, 1. That it is expedient to authorise—

  1. (a.) the temporary advance out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of any sums that may be required for making good any deficiency in the Land Purchase Account for the payment of dividends on guaranteed Land Stock and payments to the Sinking Fund;
  2. (b.) an annual Exchequer contribution of £40,000 out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom to the Guarantee Fund.
  3. (C.) the payment out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of the salaries of the Land Commissioners.
2. That it is expedient to authorise the payment, out of moneys to be provided by Parliament, of the salaries, remuneration, and administrative expenses of the Congested Districts Board, in pursuance of any Act of the present Session relating to the Purchase of Land in Ireland, the Land Commission, and the Congested Districts in Ireland."— (Mr. A. J. Balfour.)

(4.32.) MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

I understand from Her Majesty's Government that the pledge of the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury was that no further stage beyond the Second Reading would be taken of any of these measures. We have allowed the Government in connection with these two Bills to take another stage— one that I understood was reserved for after the Christmas holidays.

(4.33.) THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH, Strand, Westminster)

Progress cannot be made in Committee with this Bill until a formal Resolution has been passed, which Resolution was included in the programme of the Government—that is to say, the programme of business to be taken before the adjournment for the Christmas holidays.

MR. T. M. HEALY

I refer not to the arrangements of the Government, but to the pledge of the right hon. Gentleman. I apprehend that the right hon. Gentleman stated that the Government would not press these Bills beyond the Second Reading stage, but they have now achieved a further stage, which has prevented Instructions being moved on going into Committee.

(4.34.) MR. W. H. SMITH

The pledge I gave to the House was that no progress should be made in Committee on the Bill until after the Christmas Recess, but it was distinctly understood that all the steps necessary to get the Speaker out of the Chair should be disposed of, and the Money Resolution is one of those steps.

MR. T. M. HEALY

I will say no more on the point, but I hope the Irish Members will have sufficient notice given them of the intention of the Government to make effective progress in Committee on the Land Bills. I understand from the Government that the early part of the January Sitting will be occupied with the Tithe and the Scotch Private Legislation Bills. That is, no doubt, right and proper; but I think we should have a few days' notice of the Irish Bills, so as to enable us to put down our Amendments. We do not want to spend our Christmas in preparing Amendments. We cannot be expected to devote our whole lives to work of this kind. We ought to have ample notice as to when effective progress will be made with the Irish Bills in Committee.

(4.36.) MR. W H. SMITH

I will undertake that the effective notice which the hon. Member requires shall be given. I think the hon. Member will agree that that is a course which has always been adopted by the Government, at the request of the Irish Members. No Bill other than the Scotch Private Legislation Bill and the Tithe Bill will be proceeded with in Committee before January 29th; and if the Tithe Bill is not through Committee on that date, no other Bill will be proceeded with in Committee on that date. The hon. Member will see by the progress made with the Tithe Bill and the Scotch business whether the attendance of himself and his friends will be requisite. However, I will undertake that ample notice of the Land Bills shall be given.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolutions to be reported upon Thursday, 22nd January.