HL Deb 15 January 1918 vol 27 cc663-4
THE EARL OF CRAWFORD

My Lords, in moving that the House do now adjourn, may I suggest that your Lordships should consider whether it would not be well for us to meet at our usual hour of 4.30 next week and sit after dinner? The Bill is very long, and there is a large number of Amendments still before us. I would therefore ask your Lordships to consider whether that would not be a profitable arrangement to make for next week.

Moved, That the House do adjourn until 3.30 to-morrow.—(The Earl of Crawford.)

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

The noble Earl may be quite assured that we shall put no obstacle in the way of the Government getting the Bill through. As the noble Earl says, progress has been slow. But there are yet two days left in this week during which we are going to consider the Bill, and no doubt future progress will be quicker. We have passed through a great deal of what is difficult in the Bill, and although there are several difficult matters left, they are not so very many. I would ask the Government to reserve their final opinion on this subject until we have seen how we get on during to-morrow and Thursday.

LORD GAINFORD

Would it not be possible for the House to sit on Friday?

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD

I expressly stated that I put the question for the consideration of your Lordships. It would arise better on Thursday.

LORD GAINFORD

Shall we sit on Friday?

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD

I think the inclination of the House is against sitting on Friday.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

I would remind the House that the Judicial sittings commence on Tuesday next, and that we generally sit judicially until a quarter to four. Therefore it would hardly be possible for the full House to meet as early next week as has been the case this week.

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House adjourned at fifteen minutes before eight o'clock.