§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury why it was that the London County Council (Money) Bill, involving the expenditure of some millions, the Second Reading of which was pressed at 12 o'clock midnight of the 22nd July, was issued in a revised form only on the morning of the 23rd July; and whether, in future, Members may have such complicated Money Bills not less than a day before the Second Reading is moved?
MR. LAWSONMay I ask whether any new powers are given in the Bill, and whether the measure was not carefully considered by the Treasury upon the representations of the London County Council?
§ * THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.That is rather a subject for discussion, and if the hon. Member desires an answer to the question he had better give notice. The London County Council (Money Bill) was issued on the morning of Monday, July 21st. Some clerical errors were discovered in it, and it was found that a small Amendment would be necessary, and I thought it would save time to reprint the Bill. Large numbers of this reprint were at the Vote Office on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 22nd, some hours before the Motion for the Second Reading came on.
§ * MR. BARTLEYIs it not a fact that the revised copy circulated after the House had been pressed to read the Bill a second time differed in certain particulars from the original Bill. Was that owing to the mistake of the London County Council?
§ * MR. JACKSONI cannot say that it was.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONIs the Bill to be taken to-night?
§ * MR. JACKSONNo, Sir.
§ * MR. BARTLEYWill there be any further alteration in the Bill?
§ * MR. JACKSONThe hon. Member will see that when he gets the Bill.