§ EARL BEAUCHAMPMy Lords, there are several Bills to which His Majesty's Government hope to-day to obtain the assent of noble Lords opposite, but the Bills have not yet reached this House from another place. Two of them are of very slight importance. I refer to the River Navigation Improvement (Ireland) Bill, and the Constabulary and Police (Ireland) Bill. But there is another Bill which is a good deal more important, to 491 which both sides in the House of Commons have agreed—namely, the Housing (No. 2) Bill. We find ourselves, however, in a difficulty owing to the fact that these measures have not yet reached your Lordships from the other House. I desire, upon this, to say that it reflects the greatest credit on the officials of the two Houses that no question of this kind has arisen before during the last few days. The stress and strain on the officials of both Houses have been great, and I think it is due to them that a word of praise should be said on behalf of their efforts. But for the moment it does so happen that these Bills have not yet come up to this House. I do not know what course your Lordships would wish to take in these circumstances. Perhaps you would agree to adjourn during pleasure and reassemble as soon as the Bills come up.
§ VISCOUNT ST. ALDWYNThough, of course, it would be irregular, perhaps the noble Earl who has just sat clown would give us an explanation of the important Bill to which he referred, the Housing (No. 2) Bill. That measure, I understand, makes a very important change in the law, and provides for a large expenditure of public money. I can quite appreciate that there may be reasons which would induce your Lordships to pass the Bill, but those reasons could only be in order to find employment which may be wanting in the present emergency.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPI am, of course, entirely out of order, and can only comply with the noble Viscount's request with the general consent of your Lordships. The Bill in question is one which would ordinarily have been moved by my noble friend Lord Lucas, but he has left the House to attend an important conference on the subject of the supply of meat to people in this country, and he is now in consultation with the butchers. The measure as it will come up to your Lordships' House will be termed the Housing (No. 2) Bill. It may be that some of your Lordships have already seen the Bill, because it formed part of a general Housing Bill which was introduced in another place by His Majesty's Government some time ago. They dropped the first clause of the general Housing Bill in order that they might, by agreement, proceed with the other part, to which your Lordships have already given your assent, 492 dealing chiefly with housing for the benefit of men in the employment of His Majesty's Government at Rosyth and elsewhere. We had a short discussion on that Bill on Saturday last. The Housing (No. 2) Bill will consist of the first clause of the original Housing Bill, and it will enable the Government to deal with the building of cottages in rural areas. In order that we may get general assent to the passage of the Bill, I understand that an Amendment has been inserted in the other House providing that the Bill is entirely to apply to the building of cottages in order that the building trade may be given plenty of work during the present war. I cannot recollect the exact terms of the Amendment, though when the Bill reaches this House it can be pointed out to your Lordships. The object of the Amendment, which was moved by friends of noble Lords opposite and agreed to by His Majesty's Government, was to secure that this work shall be a temporary measure for the relief of the building industry during the present emergency. If noble Lords opposite have in their hands a copy of the Housing Bill as originally introduced, I would refer them to Clause 1. The Housing (No. 2) Bill consists of that clause, and to it has been added an Amendment which was asked for, as I have said, by the friends of noble Lords opposite.
§ VISCOUNT ST. ALDWYNPerhaps the noble Earl can answer one question. I have only just had the Bill placed in my hands. As I read it, no compulsory power for the purchase of land is given to the Treasury or to the Board of Agriculture.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPThe noble Viscount is more fortunate than I am, because I have not seen the Bill since it has passed in another place. But I believe the noble Viscount to be correct. It is intended that there should be on this occasion simply voluntary purchase of land and no attempt at compulsory powers.