§ MR. THORBURN (Peebles and Selkirk)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, looking to the interest taken in Scotland in the Private Bill Procedure Bill, and the fact that the Bill has been subjected to the consideration of a Select Committee of this House, he will give an assurance that the Bill will be pressed forward by the Government and passed into law during the present Session?
§ *THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH,) Strand, WestminsterI am sure the House will understand that until the Land Purchase Bill is through its various stages, I am not in a position to make any statement with regard to the further Progress of Public Business. I hoped that it might be possible to take the Factories Bill on Monday, but I have engaged that the right hon. Member for Derby shall have the first day after the conclusion of the Land Purchase Bill for his Motion with respect to Manipur. After the Report and the Third Reading of the Land Purchase Bill have been taken, I shall be in a position to state to the House the course with respect to Public Business which the Government may recommend, and to ask the House for such further facilities for the conduct of business as we may require. In making this statement I do not intend to prejudice the progress of any Bills now before the House.