BROUGHT FROM THE COMMONS.

HL Deb 11 May 1888 vol 326 cc7-8

Bill read 1^a. (No. 103.)

LORD BALFOUR

gave Notice that he proposed to fix the second reading for Monday.

THE EARL OF JERSEY

said, that by this Bill, for the first time, persons who held property on which the rates were to be levied, would not have the opportunity of deciding who should cause those rates to be levied. He thought some opportunity should be given to their Lordships to consider Amendments to this Bill, and therefore he hoped the noble Lord would be able to allow some time to elapse so that Amendments might be placed on the Paper.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The MARQUESS of SALISBURY)

said, there was a difficulty in the way of his noble Friend's proposal, because if this Bill did not come into operation early in June he was afraid the year would be lost. If the noble Lord would put his Amendments on the Paper on Monday, the Government would be able consider them on Tuesday.

THE EARL OF ROSEBERY

said, he might point out that Monday was fixed for the Committee stage of the Scotch University Bill, which would certainly take the whole of that sitting. He was only expressing the wish of a number of Peers interested in Scotch business when he asked to be told whether that Bill was coming on on Monday or not. It still remained on the Paper, but none or only one of the Amendments was printed, and he could not conceive that it was the intention of the Secretary for Scotland to proceed with it on Monday. Great public convenience would result if their Lordships were told what was to be done, and it would have been a still better public convenience if they had been told earlier.

LORD BALFOUR

said, the Secretary for Scotland was not in his place at present; but he had seen his noble Friend a short time ago, and was told that he had abandoned the idea of taking the Committee stage of the Scotch University Bill on Monday. In all probability it would not come on before the Whitsuntide Recess.

THE EARL OF ROSEBERY

suggested that perhaps if the Secretary for Scotland attended their Lordships' House that afternoon, he would so far inconvenience himself as to make some public announcement.

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY

asked, whether it was the intention of the Government to go into Committee on Tuesday if the Bill passed the second reading on Monday?

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

said, it was the wish of the Government unless there was any important Amendment.

Bill to be read 2^a on Monday next.