§ THE EARL OF MINTOMy Lords, in pursuance of the Notice which I have given, I have to ask the Chairman of Committees why it is that the Standing Committees, contrary to the established practice as to the sittings of other Committees of the House, are habitually appointed to meet at the same hour as is appointed for the House itself to meet for public business?
§ EARL CADOGANMy Lords, in the absence of my noble Friend the Chairman of Committees, perhaps I may be allowed to inform the noble Lord that at the last sitting of the Standing Committee for General Bills it was agreed that they should meet at 3 o'clock.
§ LORD HERSCHELLIt has been determined that the meetings of Committees should be at the hour which might, on the whole, be best under the circumstances. The reason why the Committee on Law meets at 4 o'clock is that the legal members of that Committee are generally engaged till that hour in their judicial duties.