LORD HARRIS, in moving that the House go into Committee on this Bill, said that he would like to take that opportunity of explaining how it was that it was necessary to move the suspension of the Standing Orders on this and other Provisional Order Bills the other day, and thus supplement the explanation he then gave and which the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack intimated that he considered inadequate. Bill No. 16 was late in coming up to their Lordships' House through the opposition offered to it in the House of Commons. Then Bills Nos. 21 and 22 were certainly introduced late into the House of Commons, and as they referred to the water supply of two very large services in the country, the House of Commons agreed to suspend their Standing Order, and allowed the Bill to proceed. He was entirely unaware that any question would arise in their Lordships' House as to the suspension of the 804 Standing Orders, or He should then have been ready with the explanation he had now given.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill committed.
§ Bill considered in Committee (according to Order); reported without Amendment; Standing Committee negatived; and Bill to be read 3a on Thursday next.