HC Deb 06 August 1888 vol 329 cc1724-5
SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL&c.) (Kirkcaldy,

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If the Government will consider whether the Burgh Police and Health (Scotland) Bill might possibly be settled, and the waste of a day saved, by applying to the other burghs the provisions of section 15, by which the larger burghs are enabled to adopt the Act, in whole or in part, at their option?

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

The Burgh Police and Health (Scotland) Bill is a Consolidation Bill, and it would be most unsatisfactory to give it a permissive character, and thus perpetuate differences of constitution and administration in Scotch burghs.

MR. WALLACE (Edinburgh, E.)

asked, whether the First Lord of the Treasury still persisted in his intention to compel Scotch Members to consider a Bill of the vast dimensions of the Burgh Police and Health (Scotland) Bill on Wednesday; and whether he would not consent to take the Bail (Scotland) Bill on Wednesday and the rest of the time for his own purposes, and give the Scotch Members an assurance, upon which he was sure they would all gladly rely, that in the autumn he would give them a real, good Scotch week, if necessary all to themselves, in order that they might be able to work off their Bills in a decent, reasonable, and Christian fashion?

MR. W. H. SMITH

said, he would be exceedingly sorry to force hon. Members from Scotland to consider any measure, if they were not themselves in the great majority desirous to do so. He was told that that was the case; but the hon. Member would have an opportunity on Wednesday to make his protest; and if it should turn out that that protest was shared in by the great majority of Scotch Members, certainly the Government would not insist upon proceeding with the Bill on Wednesday. But an opportunity would be afforded on Wednesday to pass a measure which, he understood, was very much desired, and which was mainly of a consolidating character.

In reply to Sir GEORGE CAMPBELL,

MR. W. H. SMITH

said, the Bail (Scotland) Bill would be put down first on Wednesday.