HC Deb 24 July 1891 vol 356 cc318-9
MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what business is to be taken on Monday?

MR. GOSCHEN

Supply.

MR. HUNTER (Aberdeen, N.)

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when the Vote for £110,000 for the Grant to Scotland will be taken?

MR. GOSCHEN

The suggestion was made, and I thought it was generally accepted, that the Vote should be taken after Class IV., directly after the Education Votes are taken.

MR. SEXTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when the Government propose to go forward with the Training Colleges (Ireland) Bill? There has been much shillyshallying with this Bill, and I think the time has come when the Government should say definitely when it will be submitted to the House and a decision taken upon it.

MR. GOSCHEN

I really think the hon. Member is very exigent. There are several Bills on the Paper, including one of my own—the Coinage Bill—as to which it may be said the Government are shillyshallying for exactly the same reason—that we cannot say when they will be taken. I am sure my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland is most anxious to pass the Bill, and, there is absolutely no doubt that it will pass; but we cannot make special arrangements for that Bill at present, looking to the other business of the House.

DR. TANNER

Night after night, when the Bill has been reached, it has been postponed without apparent reason. I hope some definite arrangement will be made.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

My right hon. Friend is not aware of all the circumstances in relation to the Bill. I very greatly regret the delay should have occurred. I sincerely trust the Bill will be passed. No effort will be spared to reduce the controversy that has arisen to the narrowest possible limits. It is quite clear now that it is hopeless to expect to get the Bill through after 12 o'clock; we shall therefore make arrangements by which the Bill may be taken at a time, to allow hon. Members to express their views and take a Division.

MR. SEXTON

Precisely; but we want to know when that will be.

MR. CRAWFORD

May I ask the Lord Advocate when the Report of the Scotch Education Department will be in the hands of Members, and will the Vote for Scotland be taken before we have the Report?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON, Bute)

The Report has been in the hands of the printers for some time, and, I hope, will shortly be ready. I am not responsible for the time when the Vote will be taken.