§ MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If he is in a position to make any statement as to the course of Business after the Third Reading of the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill, and, more particularly, if he can state whether the Government intends to adopt any, and, if any, what, means to enable the House to overtake this year a fair proportion of the ordinary Legislative Business of the country?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)I am sure the hon. and learned Gentleman will understand that I am unable to make any statement with regard to the 727 progress of Public Business after the Third Reading of the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill. I hope the hon. and learned Gentleman will use his influence to forward that Bill. Until that Bill has reached a stage at which I can really hope for the Third Reading I will be quite unable to make any statement with regard to the Business, It is our desire to push forward Public Business, other than the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill, as rapidly as possible.
§ MR. E. ROBERTSONasked, whether the Government intended to regard the passing of that Bill as the special legislative work of the Session; or whether it was their intention to consider some other means whereby the ordinary Legislative Business of the country might be in part attended to, at whatever date the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill might pass?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHUndoubtedly the Government do not consider that the passing of the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill would be a sufficient discharge of the duties of Parliament; and it will be their duty to consider what course they will recommend to Parliament under the circumstances.