§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMay I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government will give us further information as to the course of business before the Recess?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAs a desire has been expressed by right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite that the Second Reading of the Insurance Bill should not be concluded to-night, we have decided to give another day, and bring the Debate to a close at Eleven o'clock on Monday night. I understand that arrangements have been made whereby the Eleven o'clock Rule will be suspended by agreement in order to take the Second Reading of three small Bills—the Burghs Police (Scotland) Bill, the Public Libraries (Ireland) Bill, and the Railway Accounts Bill.
On Tuesday we shall proceed with the Second Reading of the Trade Unions (No. 2) Bill.
On Wednesday the Prime Minister will submit a Motion to Adjourn from Five o'clock on Friday, 2nd June, till Tuesday, Nth June. That will be preceded by a Motion excepting the discussion on that day from the rule as to anticipatory Motions, but, as the Prime Minister has already informed the House, he will be under the necessity of withdrawing that Motion if there should be a tendency to discuss it. We hope to bring the discussion on the Adjournment Motion to a close at eight o'clock, and afterwards obtain the Second Reading of the Labourers (Ireland) Bill and the House Letting (Scotland) Bill.
On Thursday, as already announced, we shall take the Scottish Estimates, and Friday is a private Members' day. I may add that the Home Secretary hopes that the Second Reading of the Aerial Navigation Bill will be taken on Monday, and the subsequent stages on Tuesday. This is necessary if it is to become law before the holidays.
It may be for the convenience of the House that I should state that when we resume on the 13th June the business will be Supply.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINSeeing that the Trade Unions (No. 2) Bill is a Government Bill, was only presented yesterday without a word of explanation, and was only circulated this morning, may I ask whether the Government really propose to proceed with the Second Reading on Tuesday? I must say that I do not think that is treating the House with ordinary courtesy.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister I have no doubt will consider the suggestion made by the right hon. Gentleman. At the same time I should have thought, and I submit this to the right hon. Gentleman and those who seem to take his view—that it would be desirable to get a discussion upon that Bill at an early opportunity, in order that Members should have full time to consider the matter before entering upon the Committee stage.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMay I make a suggestion which would meet my views. I agree that we ought to have as early a discussion on that Bill as possible. I think a convenient opportunity would have been the introduction of that Bill, but that has gone by. If, however, the Government will give Tuesday for discussion, and not take a Division on that but on another day, and adjourn the Debate to another day, the Government will have the early opportunity which they desire, and the House will have an opportunity for consideration.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI would remind the right hon. Gentleman that of course we must look ahead and see that the Session is not unduly prolonged, in the interest of hon. Members, and that is a consideration which I should think would appeal to the right hon. Gentleman as well as to other hon. Members. Therefore if two days are given for the discussion of a Bill which under ordinary conditions would be discussed in a Single day it simply means extending the period of the Session, and I do not think anyone is really anxious to do that.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINWith your permission I would just like to say Sir, that I demur to the assertion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that it is the ordinary practice of the House to obtain the Second Reading of a Bill of that character in one day. We ought to have had two days. There would have been at least one day on the introduction and a second on the Second Reading, and even if 449 we have to prolong the Session by one day, while I deplore the necessity as much as the right hon. Gentleman does the Bill is one which ought not to be hurried through.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEOf course, I cannot express an opinion. It is the first occasion on which I have had to deal with this matter, but I will take care that the right hon. Gentleman's representation is brought before the Prime Minister, who will no doubt consider the matter, and let the right hon. Gentleman know his decision.
§ Mr. JOHN REDMONDI understand that the right hon. Gentleman proposes to take the Motion for the Adjournment on Wednesday, and before that Motion is submitted the right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister will move another exempting the discussion from the peculiar arrangement existing in respect to anticipatory proposals so that all sorts of subjects may be discussed on the Motion for Adjournment. The right hon. Gentleman says that perhaps the discussion may be finished at eight o'clock. That is quite problematical, and under these circumstances it is doubtful. Then he passes on to the Second Reading of the Irish Labourers Rill, a measure which it is essential should be passed as to the Second Reading before the Adjournment. Indeed, I think there is some sort of agreement that it should be done. I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to make certain that the Labourers' Bill will be taken on Wednesday, and whether he will agree to suspend the Eleven o'Clock Rule, because otherwise the Adjournment Motion may go to such a time as to block out the Labourers Bill.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI will bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman has said, but I cannot at the present moment give him any answer.
§ Mr. YOUNGERWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that he has announced the Second Reading of the House Letting (Scotland) Bill is to be taken after the Labourers (Ireland) Bill, and does he propose to keep the Scotch Members up all night, as a preliminary canter?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe Irish Labourers Bill is not contentious.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEWill it be necessary to take a further Vote on Account, and, if so, when?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI must ask the hon. Gentleman to put that question later. There will not be a Vote on Account before Whitsuntide.
§ Lord HUGH CECILWill the right hon. Gentleman say what business will be taken on June 13th?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGESupply will be taken on the first day of our return. The nature of the Supply will be communicated by the Patronage Secretary in the ordinary way.
§ Lord HUGH CECILIs it intended to take any further stages of the Insurance Bill soon after the holidays?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGENo; it is intended to give a substantial time between the Second Reading and the Committee stage.
Ordered, That the Proceedings on the Second Reading of the National Insurance Bill have precedence this day of the Business of Supply.—[The Prime Minister.]