§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, I should like to ask the noble Viscount who leads the House whether he is able to give us any information as to the views of His Majesty's Government with regard to the date of the Easter holiday, and perhaps as to its duration.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (VISCOUNT MORLEY OF BLACKBURN)My Lords, I am afraid I must answer the noble Marquess's question by asking him to be so kind as to give us information as to the date on which he thinks it likely he might be able to bring before the House the proposals for its reconstitution, of which he has given notice. As soon as he tells me that, I will tell him what we propose.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, I do not think the question which the noble Viscount has asked me is an unreasonable one, and I will answer it. If I am to assume, what I think I am right in assuming after a conversation with the noble Viscount, that the Easter adjournment might begin on some day during next week, I am afraid I see no prospect of being able to introduce the Bill for the reconstitution of this House before the Easter holiday. It is a personal disappointment to me to make that announcement, but I hope that the postponement may not occasion too much inconvenience to your Lordships. But, my Lords, there is one preliminary step connected with the Bill in question which we should be glad to see taken before we adjourn. The 656 Bill, like any Bill dealing with the constitution of this House, necessarily touches the Royal Prerogative. The result of inquiries which I have made has been to satisfy me that any Bill of which that can be said ought not to be introduced into either House of Parliament without the previous sanction of the Crown. I will not at this moment attempt to discuss the precedents by which we have been led to this conclusion, but we are satisfied that it is in accordance with the practice of Parliament and with the respect which we owe to the Crown that that preliminary concurrence should be obtained. In these circumstances I should like on Thursday next to make the following Motion—
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty praying His Majesty that, with a view to the Reform of the present Constitution of the House of Lords, His Majesty would be graciously pleased to consent to a Bill being introduced limiting the Prerogative and Powers of the Crown in so far as they relate to the creation of Peerages and to the issue of Writs of Summons to Lords Spiritual and Temporal to attend and sit and vote in the House of Lords.I suggested just now that I should move that Address on Thursday next. I have chosen that day for the reason that, acting upon advice of a professional rather than a political character, I shall be obliged to absent myself from this House next week. Thursday is, therefore, the last available day so far as I am concerned. But, my Lords, I readily admit that, considering the importance of the matter, the notice which I have given is brief If the noble Viscount thinks it too short I am in his hands, and the Motion will either be made by some one else in my place at a later date, or else postponed until after the Easter holiday.
§ VISCOUNT MORLEY OF BLACKBURNMy Lords, I am sure we are all cordially sorry that professional reasons should actuate the noble Marquess in any step he has to take. No doubt we might have complained that the notice that he has now given is rather short, but I think I may say that I shall be prepared on Thursday, having examined the precedents in the meantime, to state what the view of His Majesty's Government as to the Motion of the noble Marquess is. Then with regard to the Easter recess, as the noble Marquess's Bill is not to be brought forward before Easter I think it would be convenient if we adjourned from April 6 until April 26. If the House approves, that will be our proposal.