HC Deb 22 August 1889 vol 340 cc223-4

Lords' Amendment considered.

MR. H. H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, East)

I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury what course the Government propose to take with reference to this Bill. As it left this House it was a valuable measure, but their Lordships have inserted Amendments which open up such important questions that I think it would be impossible adequately to discuss them this Session. After the progress which has been made to-night with the business of the House, I think it would be better if the Government would consent to adhere to the Bill as it was sent up from this House, and would disagree with the Lords' Amendments.

MR. W. H. SMITH

As the right hon. Gentleman is well aware, this is not a Government measure in any respect. It was promoted by the noble Lord the Member for Paddington, and I think that as it left this House it was an exceedingly valuable one. The Amend- ments which have been made by their Lordships certainly do raise a number of questions which require very careful consideration in this House, and, under the circumstances, I am quite prepared to concur in the suggestion that we should dissent from the Lords' Amendments in the hope that the Bill as it went up from this House may be allowed to become law in the course of the present Session. Otherwise it will be quite impossible to pass it this Session.

MR. T. M. HEALY

There is one point to which I should like to draw the attention of the Government, and that is the desirability of giving this House some power to discuss separately Amendments which are made by the Lords in Bills passed by this House, instead of merely being called upon to decide whether we agree or disagree with their Lordships' Amendments en bloc.

Motion made, and Question, "That this House dissent from the Lords' Amendments," put, and agreed to.

Lords' Amendments disagreed to.

Committee appointed, "to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to the Amendments to which this House hath disagreed,"—Sir Edward Clarke, Mr. Henry H. Fowler, MR. Attorney General, Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, and Mr. Jackson:—To withdraw immediately.

Ordered, That Three be the quorum.