§ Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.
§ *LORD ELPHINSTONEMy Lords, before the House goes into Committee on this Bill, I would make an appeal to my noble Friend the Secretary for Scotland. When this Bill was before your Lordships on Second Reading I suggested to my noble Friend who has charge of the Bill that it be suspended and brought in early next Session, as I said that none of the County Councils in Scotland knew anything about the Bill. My noble Friend stated the Bill was sent down to Scotland, but I find that the Scotch Office did not send the Bill down. Formerly the Scotch Office used to send down local Bills to Scotland, but I understand that the stationery Office interfered, and said they were defrauded of their pence. I hope my noble Friend will arrange that on future occasions Bills shall be sent down by the Scotch Office.
*THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (The Marquess of LOTHIAN)I should like to say, in reference to what the noble Lord has said, that I stated the Bill was sent down as soon as printed, but I did not say it had been sent down from the Scotch Office. With regard to the suggestion of my noble Friend, I may inform him that I have already made arrangements by which I hope it may be found possible to send copies of Bills affecting Scotland to the several County Councils. It is not part of my 98 official duty to send them, but I think it is desirable that the County Councils should be made acquainted with the provisions of Bills affecting Scotland as soon as may be possible.
§ House in Committee.
§ Clause 1.
§ Verbal Amendments made.
§ *LORD ELPHINSTONEI have an Amendment, in page 1, line 2, to leave out ("the application of") and to insert ("an application by an absolute majority of.")
§ *LORD HAMILTON OF DALZELLI believe that it is in conformity with my promise to the Secretary for Scotland that that should be put in. I have no objection to it also applying to the District Council if the noble Lord thinks it proper.
§ Amendment moved, in Clause 2, page 1, line 27, at end of Clause, to add ("and agreed to by an absolute majority of the whole members of the county council.")—(The Lord Hamilton of Dalzell.)
THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANWith reference to these two Amendments I have an Amendment here which will embody the views of both noble Lords who have just spoken. The noble Lords have referred to the District Councils, and to an absolute majority in the County Councils. If they will accept this Amendment in place of those two Amendments, I shall be glad to propose to add at the end of the clause—
Unless approved of by an absolute majority of the members of the District Committee or County Council as the case may be.
§ I think that will meet the views of both noble Lords.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.
§ Remaining Clauses agreed to, with verbal Amendments.
§ Bill re-committed to the Standing Committee, and to be printed, as amended. (No. 259.)