HC Deb 25 June 1883 vol 280 cc1424-6
MR. J. W. BARCLAY

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether any obstacle has arisen to account for the delay in introducing the Bill providing for the rearrangement of Government business in Scotland; whether objection is offered to the new arrangements contemplated by the Law Officers for Scotland; and, whether he will undertake to introduce the Bill before proceeding with the Scotch Votes?

SIR HERBERT MAXWELL

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, When it is proposed to introduce a Bill for the rearrangement or creation of a Scottish Department?

MR. DALRYMPLE

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, inasmuch as he stated, August 16th 1881, at the time when "additional assistance in the Home Office" was obtained by the appointment of the Earl of Rosebery, that there was "no formal change, and still loss nothing that would tend to lower the office of the Lord Advocate," What circumstances have arisen since that time which have made new arrangements necessary for the management of Scotch business; and, whether there is any reason for abandoning the custom which had grown up through many years of leaving to the Lord Advocate not only the legal but also the lay or general business of Scotland, subject to the control of the Government?

MR. GLADSTONE

Sir, the only specific observation I have to make in answering the first Question is that the second clause of that Question evidently rests upon an entire misapprehension. There has been no such objection or impediment offered by the Law Officers for Scotland; and, in truth, the Law Officers for Scotland—and especially the Lord Advocate—have been engaged in considering the arrangements to be proposed. Apart from that, I think it will be enough to say in answer to the third Question that there has been no cause of delay except that which is a cause of universal delay—namely, the crowded state of Public Business. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs will move on Thursday for leave to bring in a Bill which will contain the proposals of the Government on this subject.

MR. DALRYMPLE

said, that he had not received an answer to his Question from the Prime Minister.

MR. GLADSTONE

I thought, Sir, I had answered the Question of the hon. Gentleman when I said there had been no cause of delay excepting the pressure of Business. The word she has quoted of mine had reference to the immediate intentions of the Government, and had no reference to their permanent intention. They were used in answer to an inquiry as to whether any further change was about to be made at once, and were intended to mean that no further change was contemplated at once.

MR. DALRYMPLE

I quoted the words for the purpose of leading up to the Question on the Paper, and there was no reference whatever in my Question to delay.

MR. GLADSTONE

I see also the hon. Member asked what will be the functions and arrangements under the new plan— And whether there is any reason for abandoning the custom which had grown up through many years of leaving to the Lord Advocate not only the legal but also the lay or general business of Scotland? The hon. Gentleman assumes that is to be done, and asks me the reasons for it. That evidently is a matter that will form the substance of the statement which my right hon. Friend will be ready to make when he submits his proposal to the House on Thursday, and I thought the hon. Gentleman would have fully understood that from the answer I made.

SIR HERBERT MAXWELL

May I ask whether, considering the curiosity that exists in the minds of people North of the Tweed as to the Business which will be done by the new Scotch Department, a statement will be made by the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Home Secretary on the Motion for the introduction of the Bill?

MR. GLADSTONE

Yes, Sir; my right hon. and learned Friend will make such a statement as will, I hope, convey such a preliminary knowledge to Members of Parliament in general.

SIR HERBERT MAXWELL

Before the Army Estimates or afterwards?

MR. GLADSTONE

No, no; after the Army Estimates.