§ Order for Second Reading, read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."—[Sir R. Sanders.]
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYI do not want to make the same point again, but I wish to ask if it is intended that this Bill should be committed to a Committee of the whole House, and if so, why? Surely the House has plenty to do without that. I ask this because the Standing Committee on which I have 1207 the honour to serve at present has finished its work. I do not know if there is any more work ready for it, but, so far as I can find out in the Vote Office, there is not. Why should not this Bill be sent upstairs? Why should our time be taken up here in discussing it if there are any points for the Committee? Personally, I object to the whole system of Standing Committees upstairs. I think it has broken down in practice, and I know there are many hon. Members, in all parts of the House, who agree with me. Under the system, certain Bills of first-rate or of second-rate importance can go upstirs. Why should not this Bill go up? Hon. Members representing the Government may think there is nothing very controversial in the measure, I do not know. It may give rise to some very important questions, and we might spend an hour on it in Committee.
§ Sir R. SANDERSI believe this matter has received very careful consideration. The Government have resolved to keep the Bill downstairs, in deference, I have no doubt, to the hon. and gallant Member's objection to Standing Committees.
Colonel WILLIAMSAre we on the Baptist Bill now, or on the Hulme Trust Estates Bill? The question raised by the hon. and gallant Gentleman, and answered by the Minister in charge of the Bill, related, I believe, to the measure we have already dealt with.
§ Sir R. SANDERSNo.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYTo this Bill.
Colonel WILLIAMSThen I would ask one question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman with regard to the Baptist Chapels Charities Bill. What sum is involved in it? Has it funds similar to the Hulme Trust Estates Fund? What form does the property which is being dealt with take? How is it to be applied, and how does the proposed application vary from the method in which it is applied at the present moment? Are they taking it from one set of beneficiaries and endowing another set of beneficiaries with the proceeds of the charity? The explanation given by the Government on all these three Bills has been very meager.
§ Bill committed to a Committee of the Whole House for To-morrow.—[Sir R. Sanders.]
§ The remaining Government Orders were read, and postponed.
§ Whereupon Mr. SPEAKER, pursuant to the Order of the House of 19th October, proposed the Question, "That this House do now adjourn."
§ Adjourned accordingly, at Six minutes past. Seven o'clock.