HC Deb 23 July 1883 vol 282 cc140-1
MR. WARTON

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will appoint a day for the discussion of the Rules of the Supreme Court, which were laid upon the Table of this House on the 10th instant, and which will come into force on the 24th of October next, unless within forty days from their being laid upon the Table they are disapproved of by either House of Parliament?

MR. GLADSTONE

I think I have already answered a similar Question, put to me by the hon. and learned Member for Bridport. What I have to say is this. I have no intention of proposing any particular day for the discussion of these Rules; but we are quite aware of the position in which they stand—namely, that they will become law within a certain time unless they are annulled by an Address from one or both Houses of Parliament. If Notice of a Motion to that effect be given we shall think it our duty to afford facilities for its discussion.

MR. HEALY

Is it not a fact that on an exactly similar occasion in this very Session, not many months ago, the Chief Secretary refused in the case of the Prison Rules to give even the smallest facilities for discussion?

MR. GLADSTONE

I am not at once struck with the resemblance between the two cases, nor am I perfectly aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member alludes.

MR. HEALY

Then I will ask the Chief Secretary whether it is not a fact that the Prison Rules laid on the Table by the Lord Lieutenant involving most important principles as to visits to prisoners became law in the same way, and that the Chief Secretary refused to give any facilities for discussion?

MR. TREVELYAN

Without entering into the question of the relative importance of the two subjects, as to which there may be a difference of opinion, I may say that the proceedings to which the lion. Member alludes took place at a time of the year when private Members had a great many opportunities of bringing matters before the House. I am not certain as to the exact number of days; but certainly the time during which they were to remain before the House had very nearly expired when the Question was put to me, and no Members had attempted to call the Rules in question.