HC Deb 02 August 1894 vol 27 cc1565-6
MR. RENSHAW (Renfrew, W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he will put down the Government Amendments on the Local Government (Scotland) Bill at once, in order that Members may have time for considering them?

SIR G. TREVELYAN

The Government Amendments to the Local Government (Scotland) Bill will be circulated on Saturday morning.

MR. HOZIER (Lanarkshire, S.)

I wish to know when the Report stage of the Bill will be taken, and why it should, to the great inconvenience of all the Scotch Members, be postponed until after the various stages of the Equalisation of Rates Bill?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) Derby

I have always stated that the Scotch Local Government Bill would come on after the Equalisation of Rates Bill. I was asked to give at least 48 hours' notice, and I take this opportunity of saying that I expect the Bill will come on early next week.

MR. HOZIER

Does that mean on Monday or Tuesday?

SIR W. HARCOURT

I cannot say. The Equalisation of Rates Bill comes on to-morrow; but we cannot say how long it will take. It may require Monday and Tuesday. Then there will be the Report stage of the Evicted Tenants Bill, but in the present circumstances that is not likely to take very long. Therefore, I hope we shall by Monday or Tuesday have disposed of that Bill and of the Equalisation of Rates Bill; and then, of course, the Scotch Bill will be taken immediately.

MR. HOZIER

Will the Report stage of the Scotch Bill be taken before the Report stage of the Equalisation of Rates Bill?

SIR W. HARCOURT

I cannot state that positively. That must depend very much upon the nature of the Amendments to the Equalisation of Rates Bill.

MR. HOZIER

Why should the Scotch Bill be postponed until after the Equalisation of Rates Bill?

SIR W. HARCOURT

The Government must have a little latitude in the disposal of their own business.

SIR D. MACFARLANE (Argyll)

As there must be an interval between the Committee and the Report stages of the Equalisation of Rates Bill, will the Government consider whether the Scotch Bill cannot be taken in that interval?

SIR W. HARCOURT

I will consider the question, and see whether I can give some answer to-morrow.

MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)

asked whether the Government could not find facilities for the Railway and Canal Traffic Bill as well as the Rates Bill?

[No answer was given.]