§ MR. BUXTON (Essex, Walthamstow)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government adhere to the decision of the noble Lord the Member for Paddington in regard to the renewal of the Coal and Wine Dues; or, whether they intend to support the renewal of these dues; if so, whether they will strictly limit the period of renewal, and will secure that the proceeds of the dues shall be applied to the erection of free communications across the Thames east of Tower Bridge, and of open spaces in London generally?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)In answer to the hon. Member, it is the intention of the Government to adhere to the declarations of the late Chancellor of the Exchequer (Lord Randolph 266 Churchill) on the subject of the Coal and Wine Dues; but I must remind the hon. Gentleman that my noble Friend expressly invited the inhabitants of the districts affected by the proposals in question to make their wishes known to Parliament through their Representative Bodies and their Members in this House; and he assured them that due consideration would be given by Her Majesty's Government to those opinions when they were expressed.