§ Mr. Oswald,seeing the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department in his place, asked whether it were the intention of her Majesty's Government, during the present Session of Parliament, to introduce a bill for the regulation of the police within the Parliamentary districts of Glasgow?
§ Sir J. Grahamreplied, that the hon. Gentleman must be aware that there were already three private bills before the House for the regulation of the police of Glasgow and its suburbs. Now, considering that Glasgow is the second city in point of population in the empire, it did appear advisable to her Majesty's Government, with the assent of the rate-payers, to introduce an uniform system of police in Glasgow and its suburbs; at the same time they were quite aware that the efficiency of such police would much depend on the assent of the rate-payers to the rate to be laid. He was sorry to learn, that great excitement prevailed in that city, in consequence of the announcement that Government intended to introduce a general measure. It was the anxious wish of her Majesty's Government, to make an arrangement with a more general concurrence. To pass the bills now before Parliament, unless precautions were taken, would be a serious bar to such an arrangement. He was perfectly willing to declare, on the part of her Majesty's Government, that during the present Session they would not attempt to force a general system of police on Glasgow; but he would propose in each separate measure before the House to introduce clauses of suspension with regard to the criminal police, declaring they should only endure till it should be by Parliament otherwise provided. It would then be open to Parliament, notwithstanding these local acts, to pass a general measure. If he did not succeed in introducing such clauses, of course it would be open to him to proceed, even during the present Session, with a general bill.