HC Deb 06 February 1884 vol 284 cc95-6
MR. ACLAND

said, he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Whether the Government intended to take any steps to protect home animals from foot-and-mouth disease?

MR. DODSON

, in reply, said, that his noble Friend the Lord President of the Council would introduce, in the other House, a Bill by which the powers of the Privy Council, under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act of 1878, would be extended in regard to the prohibition and regulation of the importation of diseased animals from foreign countries.

MR. CHAPLIN

asked whether that measure would be pressed with all speed, both in this and in the other House of Parliament?

MR. DODSON

said, that the Government would, of course, exercise due diligence, having regard to the importance of this question and of other Business.

MR. CHAPLIN

asked whether that meant this measure would take precedence of other Business in the House of Commons?

No answer being given,

MR. CHAPLIN

repeated his Question at a subsequent stage, and desired to know whether, when the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster spoke of "due diligence" being used, that meant that it would take precedence of other Government Business in this House, or would it be left to take its chance after the passing of the Reform and other Bills?

MR. GLADSTONE

This Question relates to the conduct of Business, for which I am responsible, and therefore I shall, and ought to, answer it. The Bill with respect to which my right hon. Friend has given information to the House will be introduced to the House of Lords, I hope, in the course of a very few days. It is not for me to state what the House of Lords may do with regard to the Bill. The Government certainly will lose no time in obtaining their judgment upon it. We shall likewise do the best in our power, if the Bill should reach this House, to push it forward; but when the hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Chaplin) asks whether we intend to set aside the great measures mentioned in the Queen's Speech for the purpose of giving this particular Bill precedence over all other Business whatsoever, I answer distinctly to him we have no such intention.