§ 50. Mr. PIRIEasked the Prime Minister, with reference to the pledge given at Edinburgh on the 8th November, 1913, and confirmed in this House on 24th February last by the Secretary for Scotland, that the Government would introduce a Bill embodying their views for the granting of self-government for Scotland, and to the support of and statement by the same Secretary in the Debate on the Government of Scotland Bill that there was nothing in that plan inconsistent with all the traditions of British statesmanship, whether, therefore, that Bill may now be taken as the Government view on this matter and as carrying out the pledge given by the Government; or, if not, when it is intended to fulfil that pledge?—May I say that I allude to the Bill as originally printed, and not the one containing the suffrage Clause subsequently added?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy right hon. Friend informs me that he gave no pledge at Edinburgh as regards time. What he said in the Debate on Friday last was that the adaptation of the principle of Home Rule to the different circumstances of the different countries concerned was in no way inconsistent with all the conditions of British citizenship. He is not committed to approval of the details of the Bill. As regards the last part of the question, I am not yet in a position to make any statement.
§ Mr. JAMES HOGGEDid the Secretary for Scotland at any rate say that the Government were prepared to lend their aid in drafting a Scottish Home Rule Bill, and was the Government referred to the present Government or some other subsequent Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI presume the present Government, but I do not know what my right hon. Friend said.
§ Mr. HOGGEIf my right hon. Friend assumes that it is the present Government, has the present Government any intention of doing so?
§ The PRIME MINISTERmade a reply which was inaudible.
§ Mr. PIRIEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if, in quoting the Secretary for Scotland, he has taken the report from the "Times" or from the OFFICIAL REPORT, or is the Secretary for Scotland going to alter in the OFFICIAL REPORT the speech already delivered?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not know why my hon. Friend puts that question.
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is a summarised statement of what appears in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. PIRIEI took my quotation from the speech as reported in the "Times," and I do not know whether one report is not just as good as the other.
§ 56. Mr. J. HOGGEasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the pledge of the Government to introduce a Scottish Home Rule Bill, he can see his way to provide another day to conclude the Debate on the Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid the time at the disposal of the Government will not admit of a second day being given for the discussion of the Bill named.