§ LORD BUCKMASTERMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl the Lord Privy Seal whether he can make any statement as to the proposals of the Government with regard to the conduct of business tomorrow?
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD)My Lords, my noble friend the Leader of the House is, I am sorry to say, indisposed. I would suggest that the First and Second Readings of the Military Service Bill should be taken to-morrow, and the remaining stages on Thursday. The proceedings on the Bill will be concluded in the House of Commons to-night; but if, by considering Standing Order No. XXXIX with a view to its suspension, both the First and Second Readings can be taken here to-morrow, it, will prevent the necessity of your Lordships' House being in session, and the officers of the House being in attendance, at 11 or 12 o'clock to-night to receive the Bill from the other House. If this proposal commends itself to your Lordships, I will give notice that we shall move the suspension of Standing Order No. XXXIX tomorrow. I am reminded that the Bill will be in the hands of your Lordships tomorrow morning.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I do not know in what form the noble Earl will put his Motion, whether it will be in respect of this one Bill and in respect of the first two Readings only. I do not speak for anybody but myself and a few of my friends when I say that 694 we should have no objection to that course. I see no reason for keeping the officers of the House here until midnight for the formal stage of the First Reading of the Bill. In all these matters your Lordships have always drawn a great distinction between urgent War Bills—and there can be no War Bill so urgent as the present one—and ordinary legislation.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDMy Lords, what I propose will apply only to tomorrow, and to the first two stages of the Military Service Bill. A subsequent Motion will be required for Thursday. Accordingly I beg to give notice that to-morrow the Lord President of the Council will move that Standing Order No. XXXIX be suspended for that day's sitting in order to take the First and Second Readings of the Military Service Bill.