§ Brought from the Commons.
THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (The Marquess of LOTHIAN)In introducing this Bill to your Lordships, I would like to explain briefly what the object of the measure is. Under the Act of 1872 four Scottish counties—Argyll, Inverness, Ross, and Orkney and Shetland—were exempted from the limitation of what is called the 733 Parliamentary Education Grant. The Act of 1876 imposed a limit of 17s. 6d. on the whole of Scotland, but under the provision of the Act of 1872 the four Counties I have just named were held to be exempted. To those four counties the Education Department added, with the consent of the Treasury and of Parliament, the two counties of Caithness and Sutherland. This year, however, the Auditor General has raised a difficulty as to whether this was legal, and in order to remove any doubt on the subject this Bill was introduced into Parliament.
§ Bill read 1a; then (Standing Orders Nos. XXXIX. and XLV. having been dispensed with) moved that the Bill be now read 2a; agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly; Committee negatived; Bill read 3a and passed.
§ House adjourned during pleasure.
§ House resumed: the Lord Foxford (E. Limerick) chosen Speaker pro tempore.