HC Deb 20 February 1891 vol 350 cc1238-9
MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether Her Majesty's Ministers propose to bring in in the present Session, the Bill for the reform of the House of Lords which they introduced in 1888, or in any other manner to give effect to the Resolution, to which they then declared that they attached much importance, to introduce some change in the composition of that House?

MR. W. H. SMITH

The right hon. Member for Mid Lothian was of opinion that any measure, great or small, dealing with the constitution of the House of Lords could only be undertaken by the virgin energies of a Session, and I see no prospect in the present state of business of carrying any such measure except by general consent, of which I have no hope.

MR. BRYCE

Was not the answer to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Mid Lothian made on the 10th of July, and does not the right hon. Gentleman feel any difference between the 20th of February and the 10th of July?

MR. W. H. SMITH

Yes, Sir; there is, for instance, a difference in temperature. But we have embarked on serious and difficult legislative proposals already, and there is not a hope of that general consent which is necessary, seeing that we have other duties to discharge.

MR. LABOUCHERE

I beg to give notice that I shall oppose any Bill brought forward by the right hon. Gentleman for the reform of the House of Lords.