§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT HALDANE)My Lords, in order to facilitate business I beg to move that Standing Order No. XXXIX be considered in order to its being suspended for the remainder of the session.
§ Moved, That Standing Order No. XXXIX be suspended for the remainder of the session.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI should like to ask the noble and learned Viscount on the Woolsack, should your Lordships be willing to grant this power, in what respect the Government propose that it should be used. As I understand, the effect of suspending the Standing Order is to allow the various stages of Bills to be taken on the same day. I need not remind your Lordships that there are several measures of very great importance still before us even at this late hour of the session, and it would be impossible to pass them all through their various stages in one day.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORIf your Lordships pass this Motion, you will leave yourselves free to dispose of the various stages of a Bill on the same day should you so desire, and thus avoid having to sit on Thursday or Friday of this week. It is merely a matter of passing measures formally through their various stages. The Motion is not moved with a view of depriving your Lordships of any opportunity of discussing important matters should you desire to do so.
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHI would point out that we are in very unusual circumstances. On ordinary occasions when this Motion has been moved to suspend the Standing Order it has been for a definite purpose—so that, for instance, the Prorogation could take place on a day to be arranged beforehand. There is nothing of that kind in question to-day. The session, as we understand, is to last until March 6 or 7. I must say I think this House should have some regard to its dignity, and not allow measures to be hurried through in this particular way. At any rate, I reserve my freedom to protest against two stages of any Bill being taken on one day in the circumstances.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORAll that the suspension of the Standing Order does is to allow the House, should it desire to do so, to take more than one stage of a Bill on the same day.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYOn the understanding that we are not in any way supposed to be committed to take more than one stage of any Bill on the same day, but that we have power to do it if we so desire, perhaps there is no objection to agreeing to this Motion. But I am glad to have the Lord Chancellor's assurance that there is no intention on the part of the Government to press the House to take more than one stage of a Bill on a particular day unless the House wishes to do so.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.