HC Deb 23 April 1883 vol 278 c915
MR. SCHREIBER

wished to ask the Prime Minister in reference to the following statement made on the first day of the Session by the noble Marquess the Secretary of State for War:— It is not usual to include in the Queen's Speech measures which are not considered to be of the greatest importance, and this is a measure that we did not consider worthy of a place in the Queen's Speech, Whether it was to be inferred from that statement that the Government would regard the rejection of the Affirmation Bill as an event of no particular importance?

MR. GLADSTONE

I must, in the first place, disclaim on the part of my noble Friend the statement which the hon. Gentleman ascribes to him. It will be the duty, if not of my noble Friend at least of myself or another Member of the Government, to explain in the course of the debate the view we take of the Bill, and the reason why it was not mentioned in the Queen's Speech.

MR. SCHREIBER

remarked, that he had copied the words he had quoted from The Times report.