§ Sir D. MACLEANCan the Leader of the House announce the business for next week, and, in view of the commitment of the Government to fresh legislation within a margin of three weeks, can he suggest at what time we shall rise for the vacation?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWTo-morrow, we propose to take the Patents and Designs Bill and the Trade Marks Bill (Report), War Pensions Bill (Committee), and Forestry Bill (Committee).
On Monday, the Profiteering Bill (Second Beading), and the Welsh Church Bill (Committee).
On Tuesday, the Consolidated Fund Bill (Third Reading), and, if possible, the Committee and other stages of the Profiteering Bill.
On Wednesday, we hope to have the Lords Amendments to the Ways and Communications. Bill and other Bills.
For the rest of the week, I shall not attempt to announce the business, as it will depend on the progress we have made on the earlier days. As regards the possible margin of three weeks, that will depend upon the House more than upon the Government, but I am more sanguine than my right hon. Friend.
§ Sir F. BANBURYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the word "profiteering" is to be found in any dictionary, and, if not, whether he will alter the title of the Bill so that the title can appear to be in the English language?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have not examined a dictionary, but I hope it will be found that the Bill clearly expresses what is meant.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILIn view of the great pressure on the time of the House, would it not be well to send the Welsh Church Bill to a Committee upstairs?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWe have judged of that simply from the point of view of the time of the House, and our belief was that the progress would be quicker on the whole if it were taken downstairs.
§ Captain W. BENNDoes the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the Committee on Profiteering should be discharged, or should continue its labours?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI believe the Committee met to-day, and I took the liberty myself of sending a letter to the Chairman pointing out that at the time the Committee was appointed the Government then said that they intended on their own initiative to do what they could. At that time we hoped that everything necessary could be done to meet the immediate difficulty without special legislation, but we have now come to the conclusion that the evil is growing so quickly that we should not be justified in leaving ourselves over the Recess without further powers. We have said to the Chairman of the Committee that we hoped the Committee would continue in being, so that if later on further steps are necessary, the Government can ask the Committee to meet again.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWhen does the Government propose to declare their policy in regard to Mr. Justice Sankey's Report?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have answered a question almost every second day on that point. We do intend to declare our policy before the Recess.
§ Sir P. MAGNUSIs it proposed to take the further stages of the Forestry Bill to-morrow, besides the Committee?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWe will take as much as we can get.
§
Resolved,
That the Proceedings on Government Business be exempted at this clay's Sitting from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—[Mr. Bonar Law.]