§ SIR MASSEY LOPESasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government have determined on the course they intend to take with reference to the opinion expressed by the House on the subject of Local Taxation on the 16th of April last; and, if so, when he will be prepared to announce the result of their deliberations?
MR. GLADSTONESir, the Motion which the hon. Baronet prevailed upon the House to pass by very considerable majority embraces matter of a very great importance, and it was supported by him in a speech of great length, and, if he will accept a tribute from me, of great ability. But, important as was the Motion, and extended as was the statement, there are, in the opinion of the Government, many other matters inseparably associated with the points to which the hon. Baronet called the attention of the House, and embodied in his Motion. The Government will not make any announcement of its policy with respect to the points embraced in the Motion—I will not say till they have considered them, for that they have to a great extent done, but until they see an opportunity of calling the attention of the House in an effectual manner to those other collateral matters which they think inseparably connected with the subject raised by the hon. Baronet.