§ (The Lord President.)
§ SECOND READING.
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDON, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that an Act had been passed for dealing with the prisons of England, a Bill was passing through the House dealing with the prisons in Ireland, and it was thought advisable that a Bill of a similar character should be passed for Scotland. As the reasons for dealing with this matter had been fully discussed when the Bill for England was under consideration, he should not attempt to go at any length into the subject. The objects aimed at in the three Bills were the same —namely, greater economy and more uniformity in the management of prisons and the punishment of prisoners than had hitherto been obtained. The Government would have been glad if it had been possible to introduce the Bill earlier in the Session; but, no doubt, their Lordships were aware of the proceedings which had occurred in the other House of Parliament; and it seemed to him that, instead of being open to complaint for not having introduced measures earlier, it was matter for surprise that Her Majesty's Government were able to offer to their Lordships so many useful measures dealing with so many different subjects. The Bill now before 667 the House was drawn upon the lines of the English Bill, regard being had, of course, to the peculiar circumstances of Scotland.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly; Committee negatived; and Bill to be read 3a To-morrow.
§ Then, PRISONS (IRELAND) BILL read 3a (according to Order) and passed.