§ MR. MARSHsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the Government has come to any final determination with regard to the promised Bill for the re-distribution of seats; what boroughs, if any, are to be amalgamated with others; what, if any, are to he totally disfranchised; what are to be partially disfranchised and how the seats taken from those boroughs are to be distributed; and whether it is the intention of the Govern- 1358 ment to keep its views on these subjects concealed from the Members of the House of Commons until after the division upon the present Bill?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIn reply, Sir, to the threefold question of my hon. Friend I have to state that it is not our practice—it is certainly not mine—to consider any determination of the Government absolutely final, that is to say irrevocable, until the proper time has arrived for acting upon it by the production of our measures. Until that time has come, I cannot give him any information. With respect to the 6econd part of the question, I may say that I think it is quite plain it cannot be answered satisfactorily from this bench except by the production of the Bill itself; while as to the third part my hon. Friend, it seems to me, simply asks whether the Government intend to do that which they have said they would do. I may perhaps misunderstand him, but if he wishes me to explain any point over and above that as to which a declaration has already been made by the Government, and on which he desires to receive information, I shall be glad to do so. In any case I shall, to obviate all doubt about the matter, take the opportunity to restate the intentions of the Government when I address the House on the Amendment of my noble Friend the Member for Chester (Earl Grosvenor.)