In 1911, Mr. Asquith pledged the Government to take up again in the ensuing session the question of Home Rule. In 1910 the Conservative Party, at least a considerable part of it, in presence of a probable dissolution on the Parliament Bill, showed, as in 1885, a disposition to coquette with Home Rule, but the movement came to nothing, and the Party settled into determined opposition to the Home Rule policy, submitting themselves to the lead of the Ulster extremists, who preached sedition in no measured terms. In other respects, the prospects of Home Rule are fairly favourable. England, apart from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, still returns a majority opposed to Home Rule, but public opinion does not show any signs of vigorous or violent opposition as in 1886. The Liberals, the Irish, and the Labour Party are united in its favour. The passing of the Land Acts is rapidly removing the agrarian evil, and the landlords have not the same cause for anxiety as formerly. The grant of Local Government is working well, and in spite of much poverty the condition of the people is improving. Lastly, the passing of the Parliament Act has made it possible, in spite of opposition in the Lords, to pass a Home Rule Act within the limits of the present Parliament. On April 11th, the Prime Minister introduced the Government Bill. He regarded it as the first step in a comprehensive policy of devolution. It retains permanently at Westminster 42 Irish Members, so that Ireland will have a voice, not only on questions in the Imperial Parliament which concern Ireland, but on questions of Imperial interest, such as war and peace. The Bill of 1886 reserved to the Imperial Parliament certain questions. The Bill of 1893 also made necessary reservations, though its tendency was towards more complete autonomy; but in the interval between 1893 and 1912 great changes have taken place, and the Imperial Government finds itself hampered by new liabilities. The Old-Age Pension Act, the Land Purchase Act of 1903, the National Insurance Act, and Labour Exchanges have added very greatly to Irish expenditure. On the other hand, the contribution to Imperial expenditure, unluckily for the British taxpayer, has disappeared. The problem is, therefore, a new one, and the Government solves it, at all events for the present, by keeping in its own hands a large number of Services, as will be seen hereafter.