HL Deb 28 March 1887 vol 312 cc1590-1
THE EARL OF JERSEY

asked Her Majesty's Government, Whether they would introduce the Allotments Bill in that House at an early date? The Bill had been promised in the Speech from the Throne, and if it was to be passed it would be well that it should be passed early in the summer, so as to enable necessary arrangements to be made before Michaelmas; but, from the flow of words in "another place," there did not scorn to be much prospect of the Bill being brought forward there. He felt sure that their Lordships would entertain in a kindly and practical spirit a measure of this nature for the advantage of the labouring classes. It was very likely there might not be so largo a demand for additional allotments as was sometimes supposed; but the introduction of a practical measure with fair and compulsory clauses, into their Lordships' House, would have a most beneficial effect in reducing the very high and, in some cases, extortionate rents which were exacted for allotments.

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Viscount CRANBROOK)

I am very sorry that the only answer I can give to my noble Friend's Question is that the Bill will certainly not be introduced before Easter. I cannot at present fix any particular day for its introduction.

THE EARL OF JERSEY

Will it be introduced into this House?

VISCOUNT CRANBROOK

I cannot answer that Question.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY)

said, he could not foresee what the state of Business would be. It was necessary very much to arrange the introduction of Bills in this House in reference to the possibility of their being introduced into the other, and with reference to the possibility of their being passed in the other, and the time they would take in each House. The Government had not yet decided what course would be taken.

THE EARL OF JERSEY

I only asked the Question in order to get from the Government an assurance that the Bill will be introduced this Session under ordinary circumstances, and that there is no intention at present of shelving the subject.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

I can assure the noble Earl that there is no intention whatever on the part of the Government to shelve the question.