§ MR. S. T. EVANS (Glamorgan, Mid.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Bill relating to Clergy Discipline, which has been brought into the other House of Parliament by the Archbishop of Canterbury, is the measure referred to in the Queen's Speech on the opening of Parliament, as a "proposal for improving the discipline of the Established Church in regard to moral offences;" and, if so, whether there is any precedent for the introduction of a Government measure by a member of the Episcopal Bench?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.Yes, Sir; the measure brought forward in another place by the Archbishop of Canterbury is the measure referred to in the Queen's Speech, and I think there is a precedent for a Government measure, announced in the Queen's Speech, being in some of its stages not a Government measure.
§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)Will the right hon. Gentleman explain what he means by a Bill in some of its stages not being a Government measure? Will not this Bill be a Government measure in all its stages?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWhat I meant was that the Bill is not in charge of a Member of the Government in the House of Lords; in this House it will be in charge of a Member of the Government.
§ MR. S. T. EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman state what is the precedent for this course being taken?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, Sir; Mr. Walpole, a Member of this House, but not a Member of the Government, had charge of one of the University Bills introduced in 1876.