§ MR. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether the Government will introduce legislation with regard to Scottish Fisheries during the present Session?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANThe Government intend to press the Local Government Bill for Scotland to completion before they undertake any fresh legislation of importance.
§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)Would it be possible to distribute copies of the Local Government Bill before Easter, so that we may consult our constituents in relation thereto?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANIt has been arranged that no Government Bills shall be introduced before Easter.
DR.MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)Does that apply to the amendments to the Crofters Act?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI hope it will be possible at the latter part of the Session to get through the short Bill required to complete the Crofters Act.
§ MR. DALZIELMay I ask whether, in the event of representations being made that no serious opposition will be offered to the introduction of the Scotch Local Government Bill before Easter, the right hon. Gentleman is prepared to consider 327 the possibility of moving the Adjourn-merit one night at 10 o'clock to enable a statement to be made?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EX-CHEQUER (Sir W.HARCOURT,) DerbyI have given a pledge that the business up to Easter shall be confined to financial matters, and I understand that there is an objection to the introduction of Government Bills before that time.
§ MR. ANSTRUTHER (St. Andrew's, &c.)Are we to understand from the somewhat ambiguous reply of the Secretary for Scotland that, in the event of satisfactory progress being made with the Local Government Bill, the Government propose to bring in a Bill dealing with the Scotch fisheries?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANI should certainly give preference to the Crofters Amendment Bill.