HC Deb 02 January 1894 vol 20 cc651-2
MR. BYLES (York, W.R., Shipley)

I beg to ask the Solicitor General whether the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, although a Foreign Sovereign, retains the legal right, as a Member of the House of Lords, to revise or reject Bills passed by this House?

SIR J. RIGBY

My right hon. Friend the head of the Government has already said that the question of the position of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg in the House of Lords is a matter for the House of Lords alone.

* MR. BYLES

I read carefully the Prime Minister's remark on the occasion referred to. What I desire to know is the constitutional position of this Foreign Potentate, and whether he has a constitutional right to invalidate legislation passed by the House of Commons?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, Midlothian

That is exactly what I thought had been already settled by my previous answer. The question of the constitutional position is exactly the same as it would be in the case of a Member of the House of Commons, the only difference being that here the tribunal of appeal would be the House of Commons, and there it is the House of Lords. With the determination of the constitutional question I believe we have nothing to do.

MR. BYLES

Then I should like to know, is the House of Lords supreme over the House of Commons?

[No answer was given.]

MR. BURNIE (Swansea, Town)

I beg to ask the under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can communicate to the House, or lay upon the Table of the House, the terms of the oath which has been taken by the Duke of Saxe-Coburg as a Sovereign of the German Confederation?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, Berwick

The terms of the oath taken by the Duke before the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Ministers of State, and officially communicated by the Minister of State, Heir Strenge, to the Common Diet of the two Duchies will be laid upon the Table.