METROPOLITAN POLICE (COMMISSION) BILL. (Hansard, 15 June 1906)

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
My Lords, the circumstances which have led to the appointment of the Royal Commission are so recent that I do not propose to detain your Lordships by referring to them at any length. I should like to say, however, that it was not only on account of the more recent prosecution of Madame D'Angely, but also on account of proceedings which took place on boat-race night that His Majesty's Government have appointed this Royal Commission. This Bill simply proposes to give the Commission certain powers which they do not possess at the present time. It is modelled upon the Act which gave certain powers to the War Stores Royal Commission. That precedent has been entirely followed, with the exception of a single clause with regard to indemnity of witnesses. In another place that clause was inserted, and the Government, although they had not originally put it into the Bill, agreed to it because they did not wish to seem anxious to shield any witnesses, whether they came from the police force or any other quarter. The Bill met with no opposition in the sense that there was no Division upon it in all its stages through the other House, and I therefore hope your Lordships will allow it to pass without further delay. There has been considerable delay already in this matter. The Royal Commission is ready to sit, and is only waiting for the parsing of this Bill. I should like to express my regret that the Bill was not circulated with the Papers of the House last night. This circumstance has only just come to my notice, and I am unable to understand why it was not circulated. But as the Bill is in the same form as in another place I hope your Lordships will agree to 1250 give it a Second Reading this afternoon. I propose, if the Bill is read a second time to-day, to take the Third Reading en Monday next, on which occasion any Amendments which noble Lords may wish to move can be considered.
Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2^a"—(Earl Beauchump.)

EARL RUSSELL
My Lords, this Bill has only this moment—certainly not five minutes ago—appeared in print in this House. In other circumstances I should have asked the House to adjourn the discussion of the Second Reading until we had had an opportunity of seeing the Bill in print, but I understand from the noble Earl that there are urgent reasons why it should be passed at once. I desire, however, to make some observations on the Bill, but as your Lordships have not seen it and have not got it before you I think it would be as well that I should postpone what I have to say till the Third Reading.

§ LORD NEWTON
I should like to ask how the noble Earl can take the Third Reading of this Bill on Monday next, to-day being Friday.

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
It is perfectly simple. I propose to move, after the Second Reading, that the Bill be committed, and ask the House not to agree to that Motion. The Third Reading could then be taken on Monday.

THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN
What about the Standing Committee. Is it proposed to negative that?

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
Yes. But any Amendments which noble Lords may desire to move can be put down for the Third Reading on Monday next.

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
My Lords, in moving that this Bill be now committed, I wish to say that there will be every opportunity on Monday of discussing Amendments as well as the principle of the Bill.
Moved, "That the Bill be committed. "—(Earl Beauchamp.)

THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN
How can Amendments and the principle of the Bill be discussed at the same stage?

§ LORD NEWTON
This is not at all a satisfactory way of dealing with Amendments. We can only speak once on the Third Reading.

THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN
The noble Earl is proposing to take the final stage of this Bill on Monday. I should like to ask how it is possible to give notice of Amendments to-day and get them printed and circulated by Monday.

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
I am afraid the noble Earl has misunderstood me, but I am quite willing to put it down later. I hope, however, that noble Lords will be present in Ascot week to help the Government pass this Bill.

§ THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND
My Lords, I venture to think that this is not the way in which the Government ought to deal with questions of procedure and the arrangement of business. The course proposed is an entire abrogation of the ordinary rules of Parliamentary procedure. The noble Earl has suggested that we are to discuss the principle and the details of the Bill at the same stage. After a somewhat lengthy Parliamentary experience in both Houses, I must say I have never heard such an extraordinary proposition. I know nothing about the Bill and have no wish to interfere with its speedy passage into law, but I do protest against the doctrine that because next week happens to be Ascot week, and because forsooth it may not be convenient for many of your Lordships to be in your places, therefore Parliamentary procedure is to be abrogated altogether.

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
I withdraw my Motion, and will take the Committee stage on Monday.