FINANCE BILL. (Hansard, 15 June 1906)

§ THE MARQUESS OF RIPON
My Lords, in accordance with the usual practice I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time.

§ VISCOUNT ST. ALDWYN
My Lords, I was surprised to see this Bill put down for Second Reading to-night. It only came up from another place yesterday, and I had thought that at any rate your Lordships would have been given an opportunity of seeing the Bill and of considering it before the Second Reading was taken. I do not know whether there is any absolute necessity for taking the Second Reading this evening. If there be not I hope His Majesty's Government will be willing to postpone it for a few days in order that we may have an opportunity of expressing our opinions.

§ THE MARQUESS OF RIPON
My Lords, I do not know that there is any objection to the postponing of the Second Reading of this Bill, and certainly any request emanating from the noble Viscount opposite on a question of this character is entitled to the utmost consideration. At the same time, I would like to say that this Bill has generally been read a second time immediately after coming up from the other House. If the noble Viscount would agree to take any discussion, so far as discussion is open to this House, on a subsequent stage, it would, I think, be better, though I will not press the Second Reading at the moment in the face of the objection raised. It is perfectly natural that the noble Viscount should wish to speak upon this Bill, but he could do so on the Third Reading. After all, your Lordships cannot alter the Bill, and as you are not going to object to it, which you could constitutionally do, I do not think it makes very much difference upon which stage of the Bill the discussion is taken. If the noble Viscount does not see that argument I will not, against his wish, press the Second Reading to-day out of consideration for his undoubted claim to express an opinion upon this Bill.

§ VISCOUNT GOSCHEN
My Lords, my noble friend is in error in supposing that the Finance Bill has not been occasionally fully and substantially debated in your Lordships' House.

§ THE MARQUESS OF RIPON
I did not say that there had boon no debate upon this Bill. I remember that last year there was a long and interesting discussion upon it. What I said was that I did not see that it much mattered, in the circumstances, on which stage of the Bill the discussion took place.

§ VISCOUNT GOSCHEN
It is quite possible that the fact that the Bill was put down for to-day, it having come up from the other House only yesterday, was scarcely noticed by noble Lords who may wish to discuss the Bill on Second Reading, happened, however, to see that it had been put down, and I desire to make the same appeal to the noble Marquess as has been made by my noble friend Lord St. Aldwyn. The Finance Bill of the year is of such vital importance that, as a matter of precedent, the debate should take place on its Second Reading. In these; circumstances, I think it would be better that the noble Marquess the Leader of the House should postpone the Second Reading, not upon the petition of any Member or Members of your Lordships' House, but as a matter of precedent, acknowledging that this is a Bill upon which it is possible the country would care to hear the views of your Lordships.

§ THE MARQUESS OF RIPON
My Lords, after the appeal of my noble friend opposite, I think it would be quite improper that I should press the Second Reading of the Bill at the present moment. At the same time, I wish to insist that the usual course has been taken in this matter. There has been no deviation whatever from precedent on the part of His Majesty's Government, but I agree to the postponement of the Second Reading of the Bill until Tuesday next.