§ MR. CALDWELL (Glasgow, St. Rollox)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is the case that, owing to the separation of the Issue Department from the Banking Department of the Bank of England, under the Bank Act of 1844, there is held in trust, for the repayment of the bank notes issued, Government Debt, other securi- 884 ties, and gold coin and bullion to the value of the bank notes so issued, thus securing the holders of these notes against possible loss; whilst in Scotland, owing to the want of separation of the Issue Department from the Banking Department, the holder of bank notes, in the event of bankruptcy of a Scotch Bank, has no better security for repayment than any ordinary creditor of the Bank; and, whether, looking to the fact that all, or at least the majority, of the Scotch Banks have adopted the principle of limited liability, he will bring in a Bill to introduce such legislative changes as will place the holders of bank notes issued in Scotland on a footing of safety equal to that enjoyed by the holders of bank notes issued in England?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)I am afraid Her Majesty's Government have too many subjects on hand for them to venture this Session to lay sacrilegious hands on the sacred institution of the Scottish Banks.