§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)Perhaps the noble Lord the Chancellor 167 of the Exchequer will be good enough to say, Whether he contemplates adjourning the debate at an early hour, in order to enable hon. Members who have given Notice of Bills an opportunity of moving their introduction?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL) (Paddington, S.)I should be very anxious, on any proposal of that kind, to consult the convenience of the House; and if there were any general desire on the part of the House to adjourn the debate again early to-night—by which, I suppose, is meant about 12 o'clock—the Government would be very ready to accede to it. But, perhaps, with the permission of the House, I may take this opportunity of stating the views of the Government with regard generally to the Notices of Motion, either as respects Committees or Bills, which have been given Notice of by private Members. Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that it would be desirable, in the interests of hon. Members individually and generally, to limit the Business of Parliament solely to questions of finance, and to legislation which is in-dissolubly connected with questions of finance. That being so, we think that it would be extremely inconvenient that the progress of financial measures should be at all interfered with, or should be at all mixed up with questions of private legislation. The Government, therefore, after due consideration, deem it would be for the best, and that they will be acting most for the convenience of hon. Members, if they take on themselves the responsibility of placing Notices of opposition to all the private Members' Bills, and Notices of Motion, which are down on the Order Paper. Of course, the Government would much regret if any construction other than that I have stated were placed upon their action, or if it were supposed by any hon. Member who is interested in any particular Bill that the Government, by such action, committed themselves to any kind of expression of opinion as to the particular Bill which happened to receive Notice of opposition.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREWill the noble Lord agree to refer all these Bills and Notices to a Royal Commission?
§ [No reply.]