THE EARL OF ROSEBERYSeeing my noble Friend the Secretary for Scotland in his place, I wish to ask him a question of which I have given him private notice—when it is proposed to introduce the Local Government Bill for Scotland, which was announced in the Queen's Speech? My noble Friend is aware that the meeting of the Commissioners of Supply will take place at the end of April, and that of the Convention of Royal Burghs in May; and it would be a great convenience to these bodies, who are largely interested in this matter, if the Bills can be introduced in sufficient time to allow of their being considered by those bodies at their meetings.
THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANIn answer to my noble Friend, I am afraid I am not able to give any very positive undertaking as to when the Local Government Bill for Scotland will be introduced. It is proposed to bring in 1746 the Bill in the other House, but the time of its introduction will depend on the state of public business in that House. At the same time I can assure my noble Friend that the Government are anxious to bring in the Bill at the earliest possible opportunity, and one of the reasons for their being thus anxious is, that these bodies—the Commissioners of Supply and the Convention of Royal Burghs—may have an opportunity of considering the Bills at their meetings.