HC Deb 10 July 1902 vol 110 cc1389-90
MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the two decisions arrived at by the Joint Committee of both Houses upon the London Water Bill, he will consider the advisability of not taking the Committee stage of the recommitted Bill until the evidence is in the hands of Members.

CAPTAIN NOETON (Newington, W.)

I may also ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will arrange that the London Water Bill shall not be considered in Committee until the evidence given before the Joint Committee has been for some time in the hands of Members; and whether he can say when the evidence will be circulated.

MR SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower, Hamlets, Poplar)

May I also ask the President of the Local Government Board when the evidence given before the Joint Committee on the London Water Bill will be circulated; and whether he will arrange not to take the Bill in Committee until the evidence is in the possession of Members, in order to enable them to deal satisfactorily with the Bill.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I explained to the House yesterday that it is wholly unprecedented that evidence given before a Hybrid Committee should be in the hands of hon. Members before further Parliamentary proceedings are taken with reference to the Bill to which it relates. As a matter of fact I think it will be in the hands of Members today I cannot consent to postpone the consideration of the Bill which is put down for tomorrow, because the evidence was not published earlier. In my judgment, the evidence is not material for the consideration of the Bill in the House.

CAPTAIN NORTON

But was not this Committee quite exceptional?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

Surely if the evidence is to be in our hands in a few minutes, it is hardly treating hon. Members fairly to ask them to consider it at such short notice. Why not postpone the Bill till next week?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not admit that the evidence is material to the further consideration of this Bill, and under the circumstances I think it is unreasonable to ask the Government at this period of I he session to defer the Bill another week.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable dispute as to the rulings of the Chairman of that Committee?

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The Question on the Paper is as to when the evidence will be circulated. That has been answered.