§ LORD BURNHAM rose to ask His Majesty's Government whether a definite statement can now be made as to setting up the Conference on the constitution of this House, and what will be the terms of reference. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I am very much concerned to know what has become of the proposals of His Majesty's Government for setting up a Conference on the model of the Speaker's Conference for the reconstruction of this House, or the reconstitution of the Second Chamber, as it is variously called. I have not the least idea where the matter stands, but I have a very shrewd idea where these proposals are likely to go. If they are suspended in the air—as I fancy they are now—I am afraid that in these boisterous times they will soon be scattered to the four winds of heaven and we may hear very little more of them. On June 21 a debate took place in this House on a Question which I put on the same subject to the noble Earl the Leader of the House. He is unable to be present to-day, and I quite understand the reason. But some time has elapsed since then. His Majesty's Government are quick to take decisions in 237 many things, and a great many important subjects are now decided on the spur of the moment. As your Lordships know, there was once a Bill called the Ten Minutes' Bill. Most of the Bills are now ten minutes' Bills, and most of the proposals are ten minutes' proposals. What I want to know is how it is possible, if the setting up of this Conference is delayed, for any plan to be produced that can be considered here or in the other House of Parliament before the Representation of the People Bill is likely to pass into law. If the consideration of such a Report as the Conference may bring up is delayed until after that Bill is passed into law, it has a very faint chance of ever bearing fruit. I believe that an answer is to be given next week, but I have no assurance whatever that that answer will mean more than further delay. What I urge upon the noble Earl who is in charge of the House now is that the answer given next week should not be in the nature of a soporific. Your Lordships' House stands in no need of soporifics, and I hope that the answer that is then made will show that the Government recognise in these Constitutional matters the grave facts of the situation outside their doors, which in the end we shall all of us have to face. If I cannot get an answer to-day I shall put down a Question next week, if not in the same words, at any rate to the same effect.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDMy noble friend understands the reason that has kept the Leader of the House away. I will merely say that I will make it clear to Lord Curzon that his answer next week must be of a stimulating character.