§ MR. LOCKEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware of the fact that the measure of last Session increasing the maximum borrowing powers of the Metropolitan Board (under the Loans Act of 1869) was introduced into a Public Bill of the Government, and that the three Bills introduced this year for further extending such borrowing powers are Private Bills promoted by the said Board; and, whether the Government, having intimated their intention to introduce a Bill to amend the said Loans Act of 1869, purpose to allow the Private Bills to go to Committee before the introduction of the Public Bill, or defer the Private Bills until the House has the Public Measure before it?
MR. BRUCEsaid, in reply, that the hon. Gentleman had misapprehended the 830 answer that he gave him the other day on that subject. He had not intimated the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill to amend the Loans Act, 1869. What he had stated was that the Metropolitan Board had prepared a Bill, which they were about to submit to the Government; but that it had not yet been so submitted to the Government. The object of that Bill, as he understood, was to explain and amend the Act of 1869, and not in any way to extend their borrowing powers, or their powers of consolidation. As to the three Bills now before Parliament, to which the hon. Gentleman referred, it was not the intention of the Government to interfere with their progress; but he thought the Notice of Motion given that afternoon with regard to those Bills by the hon. Member for Chippenham (Mr. Goldney), was one well worthy of consideration.