§ EARL SPENCERI rise to ask the noble Duke the Lord President of the Council whether he can, as promised last night, make a statement as to the course of public business, particularly with regard to the London Education Bill.
§ THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREIt is impossible to speak with certainty of the London Education Bill, but it is hoped that it will be read the third time in the other House on Friday, 24th July. In that event the Second Reading will be taken in your Lordships' House on Tuesday, 28th July, and I suggest that the Committee Stage should be taken on the following Thursday. I understand that the noble Earl the Leader of the Opposition considers that the interval of two days between the Second Reading and the Committee too short, but what I had in view was to give the Thursday and the Friday to the Committee stage—finishing it on the Friday—in order to be able to take the Second Reading of the Irish Land Bill on the following Monday.
§ EARL SPENCERI certainly thought the interval of two days between the Second Reading and the Committee Stage too short for the purpose of putting down Amendments. At the same time I do not wish to put the House in any difficulty. If it could be arranged that the Bill as it leaves the other House shall be at once circulated before it is read a first time in this House, I do not think there will be any objection to taking the Committee Stage on the Thursday, so that in the event of its lasting more than one night it could be concluded on the Friday.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Seven o'clock, to Thursday next, a quarter past Four o'clock.