46. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the substantial progress made in the Report stage of the Marriage Bill, and the fact that it was not possible to complete the Report stage on Friday, 16th April, and that this House did not meet on Friday, 23rd April, he will consider finding time for the completion of the Report and Third Reading stages, in view of the considerable majorities on Friday, 16th April, in favour of the Bill?
§ The Prime MinisterIn view of the advanced stage which the Private Member's Bill has reached, and of the special circumstances mentioned in my hon. Friend's question, the Government, while continuing to regard the Measure as a Private Member's Bill, hope to afford an early opportunity, after the Whitsuntide Recess, for the consideration of its remaining stages in this House.
Mr. De la BèreMay I very sincerely thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, and as this may be the last occasion on which I shall have an opportunity of doing so on the Floor of the House, may I say to him in the words of the late Rudyard Kipling:
Lead us once again, Mowgli.