§ EARL GRANVILLEI wish to ask two Questions of which I have given Notice to the noble Marquess. The first is, whether he will be good enough to state to the House what Business he proposes to deal with during the next few weeks?
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY)In answer to that Question, I have only to say that the House of Commons is assembling to make up its own arrears of Business, its own especial Business—namely, the voting of the Estimates; and I do not think it is necessary for 457 the House of Lords to meet every day to see the House of Commons going through the Estimates. There is very little Business before us. There is an Oaths Bill, which might be taken next week, and I think there are one or two Bills which have Amendments to be considered which might be taken at the same time. That is all the Business I know of at present; and though I should be perfectly prepared to make any other arrangements to suit the convenience of noble Lords, I think it will be sufficient if we meet on Tuesdays, and not on other days, unless there be special Business, or the exigency of our duty require it.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI perfectly agree that the proposal of the noble Marquess is satisfactory to the small number of noble Lords sitting on this Bench. I assume that if we should be driven to it, the House might meet oftener than Tuesday?
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYClearly.