§ *THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE rose to move—
§ That this House do resolve itself into Committee in order to consider the following resolutions upon the relations between the two Houses of Parliament.
§ That in the opinion of this House it is desirable that provision should be made for settling differences which may arise between tits House of Commons and this House, reconstituted and reduced in numbers in accordance with the recent Resolutions of this House.
§
That as to Bills other than Money Bills, such provision should be upon the following lines:—
If a difference arises between the two Houses with regard to any Bill other than a Money Bill in two successive Sessions, and with an interval of not less than one year, and such difference cannot be adjusted by any other means, it shall be settled in a Joint Sitting composed of members of the two Houses.
Provided that if the difference relates to a matter which is of great gravity, and has not been adequately submitted for the judgment of the people, it shall not be referred to the Joint Sitting, but shall be submitted for decision to the electors by Referendum.
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That as to Money Bills, such provision should be upon the following lines: —
The lords are prepared to forego their constitutional right to reject or amend Money Bills which are purely financial in character.
Provided that effectual provision is made against tacking; and
Provided that, if any question arises as to whether a Bill or any provisions thereof are purely financial in character, that question be referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses, with the Speaker of the House of Commons as Chairman, who shall have a casting vote only.
If the Committee hold that the Bill or provisions in question are not purely financial in character, they shall be dealt with forthwith in a Joint Sitting of the two Houses.
§ The noble Marquess said: My Lords, your Lordships are so familiar with the subject dealt with in these Resolutions that I do not think it will be necessary for me to detain the House for more than a short time in saying what I have to say with regard to them. The three Resolutions are closely connected, and for that reason, and also because some of your Lordships may be glad of an opportunity of offering general observations upon the scheme as a whole, I will say a few words now before I move that the House resolve itself into Committee.
839§ These Resolutions are offered by us as the best substitute which we can provide for the scheme embodied in the Government Bill. They are obviously in the nature of an outline, and, I dare say I shall be told, of a somewhat vague and general outline; but let the House bear in mind that we are precluded, by the distinct intimation made to us from the other side, from dealing with the Parliament Bill by way of Amendment. The noble Earl told us in the simplest language that to attempt such a course would be waste of time. On the other hand, it is quite beyond our power to produce within the limits of the time at our command a full, elaborate, and carefully drawn Bill dealing with the subject. We are therefore thrown back upon Resolutions which must obviously be of a somewhat vague and general character.