§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER moved that the notices of Motion be postponed till after the adjourned debate on the Amendment for going into Committee of Supply.
MR. NAPIERsaid, he had had a Motion on the paper since the Easter recess for an Address, praying Her Majesty to take into consideration the formation of a separate and responsible department of public justice, and he thought it rather hard that no opportunity had been afforded him of bringing it before the House. On the 12th of February a Resolution had been agreed to—
That, in the opinion of this House, as a measure of administrative reform, provision should be made with a view to secure the skilful preparation and proper structure of Parliamentary Bills and promote the progressive amendment of the laws of the United Kingdom.Since that time the Statute Law Commissioners had presented their Report, in which they recommended the appointment of a single responsible person to superintend the amendment of the law, with adequate assistance, nothing had been done, and our legislation had been getting worse and worse.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, the right hon. Gentleman was not correct in saying that nothing had been done since the date to which the right hon. and learned Gentleman referred. If the debate for the adjournment of which the right hon. and learned Gentleman had voted had been concluded last night, the right hon. and learned Gentleman might now have brought forward his Motion, and his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who was a member of the Statute Law Commission, would have stated what the Government had done and what they proposed to do. If the right hon. and learned Gentleman would on a future day put a question on the subject, his right hon. Friend would make a statement which would enable the right hon. and learned Gentleman to judge whether it would be worth while to bring forward his Motion, but it would be quite impossible for the Government to allow that Motion at once to be carried.
§ Motion agreed to.