§ MR. STACPOOLEsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, If he can state when it is proposed to introduce the promised Bill for the repeal of the Ecclesiastical Titles Act?
MR. GLADSTONESir, the necessity for legislating on the subject-matter of my hon. Friend's Question is as great in the view of the Government as it has ever been, and, indeed, a case which was anticipated as possible has actually occurred, because one of the Irish Bishops having died, a gentleman has been appointed to the See of Kilmore who at present bears the title of the see conformably to law; but on the 1st of January it would become illegal for him to do so. It is, therefore, in our view, urgent to deal with the Ecclesiastical Titles Act; but the state of business makes it extremely difficult to anticipate at what precise time it would be possible to introduce a Bill. Her Majesty's Government have had it under consideration whether they may not be able to introduce a Bill on the subject in the House of Lords.