HL Deb 26 March 1860 vol 157 cc1231-3
THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE

thought it would be convenient to the House to state the course of public business Her Majesty's Government proposed to take before the Easter recess. There were five financial Bills in all; but two of them it was very essential to the public service should be passed before Easter; these were the Income-tax Bill and the Stamps Bill. These two measures he hoped would come up from the House of Commons on Thursday next, and in that case he proposed to take the second reading on the following day. But if unfortunately they should not come up till Friday, he hoped their Lordships would have no objection to take the second reading on Monday next, and the third reading on Tuesday, so that they might receive the Royal Assent before the House adjourned for the recess. If any of their Lordships wished to discuss the general question involved in the proposals of the Government, there were three other Bills which would be introduced after Easter—the Customs Bill, the Paper Duty Bill, and the Wine Licences Bill. On these measures the whole question might be raised if desirable.

THE EARL OF DERBY

said, whatever objections his side of the House, and indeed the other side also, might entertain, he was not disposed, after the statement which the noble Duke had just made, to offer any opposition to the course he had suggested, large as was the addition to the taxation of the country, and objectionable as was the particular tax that would be brought before them. These Bills were especially connected with the other measures, and as it appeared that after the Easter recess they were to have a discussion on the other Bills, that would probably be sufficient for those noble Lords who wished to take part in a financial discussion. He wished, however, to ask the noble Duke whether there was any foundation for a rumour that had reached him out of doors that Her Majesty's Government had felt it necessary to withdraw the Army Estimates, and to lay upon the table other and larger Estimates than were at first supposed to be necessary? Such a report was in circulation. He would be glad to hear from his noble Friend that there was no foundation for it. On the other hand, if new and enlarged Estimates were in course of preparation, he was glad to hear from the noble Duke that the Government did not intend to bring forward the Paper Duties Bill till after Easter, because in the present state of the revenue the retention of the revenue derived from that source might be found to be necessary.

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE

said, that the information which had reached the noble Earl was in some respects correct, and in others not. It was true the Government were about to withdraw the Army Estimates, and to present new, but not of increased amount. The present Estimates were based on the supposed number of troops that were expected to arrive from India. Since the Estimates were framed a considerably larger number of troops—more than seven regiments—have arrived beyond the first calculation. A revision of the whole Estimates, therefore, had become necessary, and they were to be withdrawn for rectification to meet the altered circumstances, but not with the view of any increase in the amount.

THE EARL OF DERBY

Then we are to understand that there will be no in-crease?

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE

No increase whatever.

LORD MONTEAGLE

said, that in discussing the financial scheme generally of the Government some arguments might be adduced against the Bills which would be passed before the recess, and it would only be fair towards those who might desire to raise any question that they should be allowed to do so. He hoped it would not be held that by passing the Income Tax Bill and the Paper Duties Bill before Easter, any noble Lord would be precluded from raising a discussion on these measures in connection with the other financial propositions of the Government.

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE

said, that there could be no objection to fully discussing all the financial plans of the Government on the three Bills which would stand over until after Easter.