HC Deb 21 August 1894 vol 29 cc172-3
MR. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, considering the very short time available, and which is becoming less each Session, for discussing the Votes of Supply in Committee of the House, he will consider the expediency of remitting the Votes in Supply specially relating to Scotland to the Scotch Grand Committee, retaining the Consideration on Report as at present?

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

In the year 1886, when a Committee sat on this subject, I was myself very anxious that some step should be taken; but the proposals of the Committee did not have a very favourable reception. The Committee referred to in the question applies only to Scotch business, and I imagine that Scotch Supply could not be dealt with alone. Our experiences with reference to the Scotch Grand Committee this Session have not been very promising.

MR. CROMBIE

May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he does not think that the working of the Scotch Committee was a distinct success; and whether the only difficulty in connection with it was not met in obtaining the consent of the House to send a Bill to it?

SIR W. HARCOURT

Yes, Sir, that is just what I meant. So far as I have been informed, I understand that the working of the Scotch Grand Committee in connection with the Scotch Local Government Bill was a signal success. In the previous question I was asked as to the possibility of referring a new subject like the Estimates to that Committee. I cannot help remembering the length of time it took us to get that Committee appointed, and in my answer I referred to the difficulty we had in getting the reference to that Committee.

MR. HOZIER

Is not that exactly the reverse of what the right hon. Gentleman said a few minutes ago?

SIR W. HARCOURT

No, Sir; it is exactly what I intended to say. What I intended to say was that our experience of getting the reference to that Committee had not proved very promising. I forget how many days it took.

MR. TOMLINSON

Is it the right hon. Gentleman's view that the Scotch Estimates are so exclusively the property of the Scotch Members that the rest of the House ought to have nothing to do with them?

SIR W. HARCOURT

I made no statement which would justify the hon. Member in ascribing such a view to me. I have said that the question, which is, of course, a very serious one, ought not to be dealt with in connection with Scotland alone, as distinct from other parts of the country.