Lords Sitting of 8 March 1861

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS.—1a Charitable Uses; Qualification for Offices.
3a Statute Law Revision.

METROPOLITAN RAILWAYS —DISPLACEMENT OF POPULATION.

  QUESTION.—NOTICE OF MOTION.
  THE EARL OF DERBYsaid that he called their Lordships' attention a few nights ago to the displacements which the metropolitan railways now projected would introduce among the labouring classes. His noble Friend, the President of the Council, objected to referring this question to a general Committee, as he thought it might interfere with the position of those measures, irrespective of their merits. He now found that two Select Committees had been appointed for Monday next to take into consideration two several groups of metropolitan railway schemes, and he hoped there would be no objection to direct those ordinary Committees, if not by a formal Instruction, at least by an intimation, to inquire into and report upon the number of houses inhabited by working men likely to be displaced by them, and whether there had been any attempt made to provide other habitations instead. If there were no Instructions necessary he hoped the Committees would attend to the feelings expressed in their Lordships' House.
  THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLEsaid, that his noble Friend the President of the Council thought that there was no necessity for any such Instruction, because, under a Standing Order, passed some years ago, a return containing the information desired by the noble Earl was always presented to these Committees. If, however, it was thought necessary that a special Instruction should be given, it would be better that the noble Earl should give notice of his intention to make that Motion on a future day.
  LORD REDESDALEsaid, that it was true that such a return as the noble Duke had mentioned was presented to these Committees; but they had no power to act upon that return, or to require the railway companies to raise money to erect houses in the place of those which might be displaced.
  LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYremarked that it was not easy for the Committee to entertain the question, and it would be better to give notice if the noble Earl intended to move for such Instruction.
  THE EARL OF DERBYunderstood that in former cases Instructions had been given to Committees to report as to the amount of displacement, and the provision

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  that had been made for it. He now gave notice that on Monday next he would move that an Instruction should be given to the Committees to the effect he had mentioned.
  THE EARL OF SHELBURNEobserved that it would be unjust to require the metropolitan railway companies to make provision for the displacement caused by their lines unless they required the provincial companies to do the same.
  THE DUKE OF SOMERSETsaid, that the best provision the railways could make would be to carry the labouring classes at a low rate to the outskirts of the town; and the Committees could enforce such a clause without any Instruction from their Lordships.
  House adjourned at half-past Five o'clock, till Monday next, Eleven o'clock.