HC Deb 26 July 1883 vol 282 cc514-5
SIR EDWARD WATKIN

gave Notice that he should ask the Prime Minister, on Monday, Whether, when Parliament abolished or reduced a tax, as proposed in the Railway Passenger Duty, &c. Bill, there was any Constitutional precedent to give power to any Government Department to reimpose that tax without previous authority by Parliament; and he would now ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, until the Prime Minister has answered that Question, he will be good enough to postpone the proceedings on that Bill?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (MR. CHILDERS)

, in reply, said, he had postponed the Bill for some time, and it was necessary to get on with it now. There were only two Amendments on the Paper, and he did, not think there was any difficulty about these. The Bill, being a Money Bill, it might be taken at any time; and he should, therefore, think it his duty to proceed with it whenever it was reached.