HC Deb 12 February 1897 vol 46 cc365-6

On the Order for the Second Reading of this Bill,

MR. R. B. HALDANE (Haddington)

asked for some explanation of the Bill on the ground that sufficient opportunity had not been given for considering it.

*THE LORD ADVOCATE (MB. GRAHAM MURRAY,) Buteshire

said the Bill was simplicity itself. In 1887 an Amendment Act to the then Trusts Acts was passed, learned Member knew, such reductions of rent to tenants, for as the hon. and learned Member knew such reductions could not be given under the Common Law in Scotland. Unfortunately the Amendment Act was so worded as to limit the powers of trustees to granting reductions on agricultural rents only. But there were many cases other than those applying to agriculture in which deserving tenants were entitled to reduction of rent—the cases of mineral tenants for instance. ["Hear, hear!"] This Bill was intended to enable reductions to be made on mineral rents as well as on agricultural rents.

MR. J. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)

said it was very unfortunate that year after year it should be necessary to bring in Bills to amend previous Amendment Bills. He had no objection to the present Bill, and he did not intend to oppose the Second Reading, but he wished to strongly complain that reasonable time and opportunity had not been given to hon. Members for the perusal or consideration of the Measure. On the previous night the Second Reading of the Bill was moved, even before it was printed. It had, however, since been printed, and hon. Members from Scotland had had, therefore, the opportunity of seeing it, and though, as he had said, he should offer no objection to the Bill, yet he wished to impress on the Government that reasonable time and opportunity must in future be given to hon. Members to peruse and consider Bills before they were proceeded with. ["Hear, hear!"] That had certainly not been the case in the present instance, and he hoped the protest which had been made would be regarded by the Government as a warning.

Bill Read a Second time, and committed for Monday next.