§ COLONEL KINGSCOTEasked, Whether he had rightly understood the noble Marquess (the Marquess of Hartington) just now to say that there was no prospect of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill being taken on Thursday?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, that he had not said it was certain that the Bill would not be brought forward on Thursday. Unless, however, the Supplementary Estimates were disposed of to-night, it could not be the first Order on Thursday.
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSasked, Whether negotiations had been in progress between Her Majesty's Government and the hon. Member for Salford (Mr. Arthur Arnold) as to withdrawing the opposition to the second reading?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, he was unable to give the noble Lord any particulars, but believed that the block was still on the Paper.
§ MR. CHAPLINasked, Whether the noble Marquess was aware that, on the 29th of February, the Prime Minister stated that, after leave had been given to introduce the Representation of the People Bill, he would take a stage of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill. He trusted that the latter measure would be taken as the first Order on the first Government day after the Supplementary Estimates had been voted?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, he was afraid the state of Supply would make it absolutely necessary to take Supply as the first Order on Thursday and Monday next, and on Thursday week. He hoped, however, there would be nothing to prevent the possibility of taking the second reading of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill at a later hour next Thursday.
§ MR. R. H. PAGETasked, Whether the noble Marquess would give an undertaking, in harmony with the promise made by the Prime Minister, that the second reading of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill should be taken previously to a further stage of the Reform Bill?
§ MR. ARTHUR ARNOLDasked the noble Marquess, Whether he was aware that the second reading would have been 1053 taken on Thursday night if a Conservative Member had not talked till 12.30?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, that he could not make any general statement, and hoped that the hon. Member would kindly repeat his Question to-morrow.