HC Deb 05 August 1881 vol 264 cc994-5
MR. RATHBONE

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government will consider the necessity of bringing before the House, at the commencement of next Session, proposals for amendment of the Rules for the conduct of the Business of the House?

MR. GLADSTONE

Sir, I am sure my hon. Friend will understand, with his knowledge of Parliamentary proceedings, that the Government are not able to give any definite pledge, in the present state of their knowledge upon the question, as to what Business it may be their duty to submit to Parliament at the commencement of next Session; but, undoubtedly, subject to reservations which are necessary as to everything in the future, I cannot hesitate to say, with increasing strength of conviction from every week's and month's experience, that the question of the re-organization of the arrangements of the House in such a way as to restore it—for I must use the expression—to its full efficiency, has become a question of the very first order, not only in point of magnitude, but in point of claim to precedence. I may, perhaps, Sir, while I am addressing you, say, with regard to the Boer Convention, on which I spoke yesterday, that the Paper has been presented to Parliament, and it will be distributed, I believe, very shortly. I do not know what day it will be distributed, but copies of it are to be obtained in the Agenda Office by anyone who wishes to see it. I also wish to refer to a Question put to me yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Member for the City of London (Mr. Hubbard), on which the right hon. Baronet opposite offered some observation, with regard to the Bill for the conversion of certain Stocks into certain Annuities. I am very much disposed to regret that there should be any difficulty or any burden upon the time of the House in respect to the passing of that Bill in its integrity. If I am pressed about it, with a desire to escape from all unnecessary labour, there is this to be said. There is only one portion of that Bill which is of great practical influence to pass, with the view of relieving the Exchequer from unnecessary charge with relation to the conversion in Stock of £7,500,000 of Exchequer Bonds, on which we are paying 3½ per cent. The portion of the Bill which relates to that I should feel myself bound, in any circumstances, to go forward with. There is also another enactment of the Bill for the purpose of curing a legal flaw which has been discovered in the Act of last year relating to the Savings Bank Fund. If it is desired that such a course should be taken, I would, in lieu of going forward with the Bill as it stands, be willing to read the Bill a second time, and pass it through Committee pro formâ with the view of striking out all that relates to the larger function with regard to conversion, and reduce it to the provision I have now spoken of. If I find that is so, I will take the stages of the Bill accordingly.