HC Deb 12 August 1879 vol 249 c824
SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, in the case of the Scotch Poor Law Bill, which was the only Scotch Bill among the Orders for to-night, he would consent to withdraw all contentious matter, and thus secure its passage into law, especially as the main object of the measure was only to give to Scotland the same medical grant and the same provisions for medical officers as were given in England?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS,

in reply, said, the hon. Member seemed to forget that two hon. Members representing Scotch constituencies had taken steps, in accordance with the Forms of the House, to prevent the Bill being proceeded with after half-past 12 o'clock; and, therefore, if the Bill was lost, the onus of its not coming on would rest upon those two hon. Members, and not upon Her Majesty's Government.

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL

But will the right hon. Gentleman drop the contentious matter?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

Unless a stage is taken to-night, the Bill cannot be passed this year.

MR. ANDERSON

As the object of the Bill is only to increase the medical grants to Scotland, I wish to know, Whether it is necessary to pass the Bill at all; and whether the object in view cannot be obtained without any such measure?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

If it had not been desirable to pass the Bill, I should not have brought it in.

MR. ANDERSON

But is it necessary?

[To this Question no answer was given.]