§ THE EARL OF SELBORNEMy Lords, I should like to ask the noble Marquess who leads the House whether he can give us any indication of when he expects to be able to move the Second Reading of the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Bill in this House.
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (THE MARQUESS OF CREWE)My Lords, I am afraid I cannot give a very explicit answer to the noble Earl's Question. I understand that it is quite certain that no attempt will be made in the House of Commons to proceed with the Report stage of the Bill to-day, and whether or not it will be taken to-morrow it is not-possible to say at this moment. It is evident, therefore, that in no case could we take the Bill here before Wednesday, but as to whether it will be possible to take it in this House on that day I cannot give a definite answer now. Perhaps the noble Earl will repeat his Question to-morrow.
§ THE EARL OF SELBORNEI do not wish to press the noble Marquess beyond what is reasonable, but I rather gather from what he said that, supposing the House of Commons were to dispose of the Bill to-morrow, he would ask us to read it a second time on Wednesday.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWEEverything depends on the progress made in another place, but as far as I am able to judge we may very probably be in a position to ask your Lordships to take the Bill on Wednesday.