§ SIR ALBERT ROLLIT (Islington, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Second Reading of the Conciliation Bill is likely to be fixed, when the Light Railways Bill will be introduced in pursuance of the Reports of the Departmental Conference and Committee, and when the Sea Fisheries Bill will be introduced in accordance with the recommendations in the Report of the Select Committee of the House?
§ MR. C. W. CAYZER (Barrow-in-Furness)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether Her Majesty's Government have yet been able to fix a day for the Second Reading of 328 their Conciliation (Trade Disputes) Bill; and whether they will at the same time facilitate the Second Reading of the other two Arbitration and Conciliation Bills now before the House with a view to referring them all to a Select Committee so as to ensure as far as possible some legislation on the subject during the present Session?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. J. BRYCE, Aberdeen, S.)said, that the Second Reading of the Conciliation Bill would depend on the progress made with the other business of the House. He desired, however, to take it at the earliest possible moment. In answer to the hon. Member for Barrow, he said that he was prepared to allow the other two Bills to be read a second time when the Government had obtained a Second Reading for their Bill, so that the Bills might go together to the Grand Committee. As to the Light Railways Bill, he was looking for the first possible opportunity to introduce it, and he was still in hope of being able to do so early next week.
§ MR. G. WHITELEY (Stockport)Does the same answer apply to the Factories and Workshops Bills and the Truck Acts Amendment Bill?
§ MR. ASQUITHWe hope to take those two Bills at the earliest possible moment.
§ MR. G. C. T. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)Is it not the case that the Government always block private Members' Conciliation Bills when they come on?
§ MR. BRYCENo, Sir; it is not the fact. The Government have stated on all occasions that these Bills would proceed pari passu.
§ MR. G. W. WOLFF (Belfast E.)Will the Second Reading of the Conciliation Bill be taken before midnight or after?