HC Deb 09 April 1895 vol 32 cc1367-8

On Motion for the Adjournment of the House,

DR. CLARK

asked the Government what they intended to do with reference to the Crofters Bill for Scotland. The Scotch Members were being brought down night after night for this Bill, and it was always being postponed. Would the Government make it a second Order on a Monday or a Thursday before public business, or would they give some information as to the course they intended to pursue? Scotch business was as important as Welsh, Irish, or English business, and the Scotch Members were not going to take the leavings of the Government.

MR. J. H. C. HOZIER (Lanarkshire, S.)

asked whether the Crofters Bill was in future to have precedence of the Scotch Local Government Bill.

MR. T. R. BUCHANAN

earnestly joined in the appeal made by the hon. Member for Caithness. He hoped the Government would consider, not merely the better progress of Scotch business, but the greater convenience of the Scotch night; and that would be served if the Government could state to-morrow whether the Bill would be taken as the First Order on the Thursday after the House re-assembled.

MR. ASQUITH

said, with reference to the question of the hon. Member opposite, the Crofters Bill would be taken before the Scotch Local Government Bill, as the Government regarded it as the first Scotch business of the Session. As to the question of the hon. Member for Caithness, if the Bill to which he referred was, unfortunately, not read on the Monday night after the Adjournment, as the Government hoped that it would be, then it would be taken as the First Order on the following Thursday.

The House adjourned at a Quarter past Twelve o'clock.

ON the conclusion of the Sitting, Mr. Asquith, and other occupants of the Front Benches, took leave of Mr. Speaker by shaking hands with him. As Mr. Speaker was leaving the Chair a cheer was raised throughout the House, to which the right hon. Gentleman bowed his acknowledgments. During the discussion on the Naval Works Bill, the attendance of Members was comparatively small, but throughout the evening a constant succession of Members took leave of Mr. Speaker while he occupied the Chair for the last time.