§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONI beg, Sir, to ask the hon. and learned Solicitor General for England whether the Government are prepared to introduce a Church Discipline Bill before the second reading of the English Testamentary Bill; and whether the Church Discipline Bill will deal with the United Church of England and Ireland as one Church; and also whether the Government will introduces Matrimonial and Divorce Bill before the second reading of the English Testamentary Bill?
THE SOLICITOR GENERALSir, in reply, I have to state that a Bill on the subject of Church discipline, which at the present moment is in a state that involves great reproach, was prepared, under my direction, at the same time with the Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill. When the Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill was introduced, it had not been submitted to the consideration of the Government. It has since been so submitted, and the Government have thought it right that the opinion of the right rev. Prelates, or at least of some of them, should be taken on the Bill before it was introduced to the House. The Bill had been accordingly submitted to some of the bishops, and has not yet been returned by the right rev. Prelates who have it under their consideration. It was prepared upon the principle of treating the United Church of England and Ireland as one Church. In fact, I know of no other leading principle on which it could have been proposed. With regard to the time of its introduction, the House will see from what I have stated that it is impossible for me to say that it can be brought in before the second reading of the Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill. Individually I may express the hope that the Bill, if brought in, may be introduced before the third reading of the Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill—at all events, before that time shall arrive, if it ever shall arrive, the Government will have come to a decision. [Laughter.] The hon. and learned Member for Wallingford (Mr. Malins) and his Friends, who laugh at that statement, need not be under 298 the delusion that the Government have any notion of abandoning the Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill. I have been compelled to yield to the pressure of other business. I am even afraid that the adjourned debate cannot be resumed to-morrow night; but I can assure the House that it will be resumed on the first opportunity that occurs after the more pressing business to which the Government think fit to give precedence. With regard to the Matrimonial and Divorce Bill, it has been prepared, and delayed only in order to see, from the second reading of the Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill, what shall be the character of the tribunal to which the testamentary jurisdiction shall be committed. As soon as the opinion of the House upon that point, as expressed on the second reading of the Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill, has been obtained, the Matrimonial and Divorce Bill will be introduced.