§ MR. LYON PLAYFAIRasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the Savings Banks Bill during the present Session?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, the Savings Banks Bill was introduced with the limited object of stopping a deficiency which had been increasing many years, and which still goes on increasing, in these accounts. There had been some misunderstanding with regard to the nature of the Bill; but I think it was fully removed by the discussion it has gone through, and I feel confident if we were to persevere with the discussion, there would be no doubt as to our being able to satisfy the House and the country with regard to character of that proposal. My right hon. Friend has given Notice that he will endeavour to graft on this Bill an important proposal—namely, that we should take into consideration the question of Savings Banks reform. That is so large a question that it would be impossible to deal with it at the end of a Session; it is, therefore, our intention not to proceed with the Bill during the present Session, but to take up the question next Session, and to deal, as is absolutely necessary, with the question 49 of the deficiency, and also, I hope, with the larger question raised by the right hon. Gentleman.