HC Deb 06 June 1913 vol 53 cc1217-8

This Act shall not apply to Scotland or Ireland.

Mr. URE

I beg to move, to leave out the Clause, which is also consequential.

Captain JESSEL

I do not know what the views are on this side of the House in regard to this matter, and I certainly cannot speak for Scotland. I do not know whether the Lord Advocate or the promoter of the Bill have been in communication with the hon. Baronet the Member for Ayr Burghs who took a considerable part in the discussion upstairs. In his absence I do not know what attitude I ought to adopt. Perhaps some of the Members for Scotland might speak.

Mr. URE

I had the opportunity of communicating with the hon. Baronet the Member for Ayr Burghs, and I think his view was exactly the same as my own, that there was no general demand for this measure in Scotland, but that there were exceptional cases in which the measure might be very useful. From the communications I have had with the hon. Baronet, I know of no reason why he would oppose the application of the measure to Scotland as now limited.

Mr. R. HARCOURT

I have had a good many communications with the hon. Member for Ayr Burghs on this matter, and I think the hon. and gallant Member opposite need have no anxiety now as to the views of the hon. Member for Ayr Burghs. I rather rejoice at the omission of local government elections from the scope of the Bill. I think we are all agreed upon this matter.

Amendment agreed to.

Sir F. BANBURY

In the title of the Bill, I beg to move, to leave out the words "and local government."

Mr. PEARCE

I beg to second the Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.