§ In reply to Mr. CALDWELL (Glasgow, St. Rollox),
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)said, he proposed to take the Probate Duty (Scotland and Ireland) Bill on Monday. He hoped to pass it this Session, and that Members from Scotland and Ireland would see in it an honest attempt to distribute the duty as fairly as possible. He hoped it would not be postponed, as that would mean postponement of payments to Scotland and Ireland till next Session, and it would be difficult to make them within the financial year.
§ MR. CALDWELLasked, if the right hon. Gentleman would not see his way to make the Bill temporary for this year?
§ MR. GOSCHENreplied, that separate provision was made for this year in the Bill, and that the clauses affecting the distribution in future years were provisional only, because the Bill said "until Parliament shall otherwise direct," indicating that that was a temporary arrangement. The Government next year proposed to take Local Government for Scotland in hand, and it would be a natural sequel to the reform of Local Government in Scotland to re-cast the system of local finance.