§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTONMay I ask the noble Marquess whether he has any idea of the Bills that are likely to come up to us from another place either to-morrow or the next day.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWEI have not a list of the Bills, but there are some the progress of which in the House of Commons I dare say the noble Earl has noted, including the Defence of the Realm Consolidation Bill which I think does not come up to us until Thursday. To-morrow (Wednesday), in addition to a Motion in the name of the noble Earl, Lord Crawford, dealing with the position of aliens, the following Bills which have reached this House will appear on the Paper for Second Reading—namely, Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Bill, Land Drainage Bill, House of Commons (Commissions in His Majesty's Forces) Bill, Exportation of Arms Act, (1900) Amendment Bill, and Anglo-Portuguese Commercial Treaty Bill. There will be others to come up from the other House, including, of course, the Finance Bill, which will arrive here, I think, on Thursday. On that day also I understand that my noble and gallant friend the Secretary of State for War will be able to make a general statement on matters concerning his Office. A number of Bills will pass the House of Commons on. Thursday, and as it is desirable that some of theta should become law before the end of the week I propose to ask your Lordships to sit on Friday afternoon in order to deal with those measures. The alternative, of course, would be to let them stand over until Monday, but I am informed that it would be undesirable to postpone the Royal Commission so long.
§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTONIn those circumstances, when would Parliament adjourn?
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDI have a Question on the Paper for to-morrow to elicit information from the Lord Chancellor about aliens. Would it be more convenient to him and to the noble Marquess and the House generally if I were to put off my Question until Thursday. The Defence of the Realm Consolidation Bill largely covers 127 ground on which I desire to offer your Lordships some observations, and if the noble Marquess thinks it desirable I will postpone my Notice and say what I have to say on the Defence of the Realm Consolidation Bill when it comes up, so that the discussion should not be duplicated.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWEAs there is no other business on the Paper for tomorrow except the few Bills which I have already announced, it probably would make a greater economy of time if the noble 128 Earl would take his Question to-morrow and not wait for the Defence of the Realm Consolidation Bill. When that Bill comes up there may be something of a plethora of other business, and as the discussion on the noble Earl's Question may occupy sonic time I think it would be for the general convenience if he were willing to take it to-morrow.
§ House adjourned at twenty-five minutes before Six o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Four o'clock.