§ DR. MACGREGOR (Invernessshire)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in re-introducing the Government of Ireland Bill, the Government will consider the expediency of embracing in it a scheme of Home Rule all round, applicable alike to all countries in the United Kingdom, with a view to relieving the Imperial Parliament of the conduct of local affairs?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE, Edinburgh, Midlothian)I do not think that we are in the same state of information with respect to the different portions of Great Britain as we are with regard to Ireland to enable us to treat the case in one and the same Bill. We are not able to say what amount of devolution, or what kind of devolution, is required in order to meet the public interests in the various portions of Great Britain; and, therefore, it will be impossible to dispose of their case in the same Bill as that relating to Ireland.
§ DR. MACGREGORI wish to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman does not think this is a more effective way of dealing with local affairs than by re- 1769 ferring them to Grand Committees of this House?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI can only say that devolution, in my opinion, wherever we can get at it in a practical shape, is an extremely good thing, and one which ought to be encouraged; but as to the kind and degree of it, it would be premature to say more.