§ Mr. Poulett Scropewished to put a question to the noble Lord the Secretary for the Home Department, respecting the Report of the Commissioners on the State of the Poor of Ireland. He had himself introduced a Bill for the relief of the poor of Ireland, and whether he should or should not move to-morrow that it be read a second time, would depend upon the answer of the noble Lord. The Report contained the best digested and most important recommendations, and he wished to know whether it was the intention of Ministers to introduce this Session a series of measures founded upon it?
§ Lord John Russellsaid, that the Report had been under the consideration of Government, and they certainly had found in it a great variety of important matters; at the same time he must add, that the suggestions in it were not of that simple and single nature as to allow them to be adopted without the caution which was recommended by the Commissioners themselves. He would, therefore, at once state it to be the opinion of Government that it was not expedient in the present Session to bring in a series of measures comprising all the objects of the Report. Out of that opinion a second question arose—whether it were advisable, not undertaking the entire subject, to bring in any particular and insulated measure founded on parts of the Report? He apprehended that there might be great difficulty in that course, for a special measure might either invite too much discussion or too peremptorily close it on other parts of the document. He was not, however, prepared to say, that any final decision had yet been adopted, or that there might not be parts of the Report which ought to be taken into consideration with a view to some practical measure in the present Session; but as to a series of measures, he was enabled to inform the hon. Member that it was the opinion of Government that it would not be advisable to undertake them this Session. He could not conclude without adding, that the Report was not only of extreme value, but that the subject of it was of a nature to render it absolutely necessary that some measures should be brought forward and adopted. It would be anxiously con- 1168 sidered by Government with a view to such measures, and there were none, as affecting Ireland, either at present or perhaps within the next hundred years, which could possibly be of greater magnitude, and this fact was evident from the statements made by the Commissioners. In proportion as their importance was great, and their consequences infinite, it became Government to be cautious how far they gave any pledge as to the course intended to be pursued.
§ Mr. Richardsexpressed his concurrence in what had fallen from the noble Lord, and added, that if nothing were done next Session, he would introduce a Bill upon the subject.
§ Subject dropped.