§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, with regard to the Companies (Winding-up) Bill, which has been very considerably altered by the House of Lords, and in which important provisions which had been struck out in this House have been restored, he will arrange that the Lords Amendments shall not be considered until this House has had fair notice on the Paper, and an opportunity of discussing them before midnight; and as regards other Bills which are coming down from the Lords with Amendments, what notice he will give before such Amendments are considered?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI am informed that there has only been one alteration of importance made in the Companies (Winding-up) Bill, and that this was due not to the initiative of the Government, but to the unanimous feeling of noble and learned Lords in another place.
§ MR. KIMBERWill the right hon. Gentleman say what notice will be given?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHNotice in the Votes.
§ MR. KIMBERBut how much notice? A Bill comes down to this House, and is on the Paper on the day on which the consideration is taken.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHI sought to draw attention to this matter the other day. An extremely difficult position might be brought about through taking the consideration of the Lords Amendment without any notice whatever.
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHIt is not at all desirable that Lords Amendments should be taken without notice unless they are merely formal or verbal Amendments. Where there is any matter of substance, I will undertake that notice be placed on the Paper.
§ MR. KIMBERThe Bill referred to in my question is one in which the most important and radical alterations have been made. I wish to know from the right hon. Gentleman how much notice will be given before the Bill is taken.
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHIt is the rule that alterations of that character should be printed and circulated with the Votes. The Bill cannot be taken until that Paper has been circulated. I apprehend that that must be held to be sufficient notice.