HC Deb 11 July 1887 vol 317 cc357-8
THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)

gave Notice that on Friday, the 15th, he would ask leave to introduce a Bill for appointing Commissioners to inquire and report as to the Boundaries of certain areas of Local Government in England.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

asked, whether the Government proposed to introduce a Bill for the appointment of Commissioners in regard to areas before they introduced the Local Government Bill itself?

MR. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.)

asked, what steps the right hon. Gentleman intended to take with regard to Scotland, as he understood from the First Lord of the Treasury that the Government would proceed simultaneously with regard to England and Scotland? Was there any reason why that should not be done?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

I have not entered into any engagement with the House of that character. It will be necessary, with regard to Scotland, to proceed by a separate Bill; but it is not thought necessary to proceed this year with the appointment of Commissioners.

MR. RITCHIE

Ireland will have to be dealt with in a separate Bill and by separate Commissioners. As the hon. Gentleman will find when the Bill is introduced, it is only now proposed to ask Parliament to empower the Commissioners to inquire and report as to areas which overlap counties. The House will have the opportunity of considering the areas.

MR. PULESTON (Devonport)

asked, whether separate action would be taken with regard to Wales?

MR. RITCHIE

I have not yet begun to separate Wales from England in my own mind.

MR. ANDERSON (Elgin and Nairn)

asked, whether there was any reason why a similar Bill should not be introduced this year for Scotland?

MR. W. H. SMITH

I can give no details; but it does not appear to the Government to be necessary that that Bill should be brought in this year.

MR. ANDERSON

Why?

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

You separate Scotland in your own mind.

MR. W. H. SMITH

Yes; I separate it in my own mind.