HC Deb 16 August 1895 vol 36 cc174-5
* SIR CHARLES DILKE

asked the First Lord of the Treasury how it was that no notice had been given by him for to-day in regard to stopping the introduction of Bills. It was understood yesterday that the right hon. Gentleman would give such notice, either before the close of yesterday's sitting or to-day. It did not appear on the paper to-day, and the result was that a number of Members who presented themselves at the Table had been informed by the Clerks, in consequence of the First Lord's statement in the House, that their Bills would be stopped; while, in one case, a Bill had been accepted and was now before the House.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

My intention is to introduce a Resolution which will prevent the Bills of private Members being discussed in this House during the present Session. I did not move the Resolution yesterday or to-day, because I thought it might lead to discussion, and because I thought that the whole Resolution regarding the business of the Session and the time of the House might be embodied in one paragraph and dealt with at the same time. I propose to put down a Resolution to-day to be discussed on Monday.

* SIR CHARLES DILKE

asked what would happen to Bills in the meantime. A difficulty had been made at the Table yesterday in accepting notices from several of his Friends on the subject of the Eight Hours Bill for Miners.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

Such proceedings will inevitably lead to confusion, and I hope that the Clerks will not be put to unnecessary trouble by hon. Members giving notices which must, in the end, prove abortive. I hope that hon. Members will accept the notice I have given, and will abstain from giving such notices.

MR. J. REDMOND (Waterford)

I beg to give notice that, on Monday I shall ask leave to introduce a Bill to facilitate the restoration of certain evicted tenants to their holdings. (Cheers).

MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

asked whether the First Lord of the Treasury would be good enough to use the usual channels of information to inform himself whether the introduction of certain Bills might not tend to curtail rather than to prolong discussion during the present Session. ["Hear, hear!"]

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

I shall be glad to receive information on the subject from any quarter of the House. ["Hear, hear!"]