§ MR. BAUMANN (Camberwell, Peckham)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will communicate to the House what course Her Majesty's Government intend to pursue with regard to the renewal of the Coal and Wine Dues?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)The Government have not felt themselves at liberty to depart from the position they have taken up on this question. They are unable to give their support to the Bill suggested by the existing authority, and will leave it to the House at large to determine whether or not it is expedient that the Coal and Wine Dues should be renewed.
§ MR. WEBSTER (St. Pancras, E.)asked, whether the Government would be prepared to give any facilities for discussing the question of the Coal and Wine Dues, which was a subject of the greatest importance to the ratepayers of London?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI have had no Notice of the Question, and my answer must be of the same character as that which I have just given. I cannot undertake to give facilities for a measure of this kind, for which the Government are not responsible.