§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTON)My Lords, before public business commences this afternoon I would ask your Lordships' attention for a moment to a matter of some moment in its effect upon ourselves. I have just had handed to me a Paper representing what has passed in the House of Commons. It relates to the printing and circulation of the Votes and Proceedings of that House. It appears that the Speaker has directed that, in view of the acute shortage of paper, the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons shall not in future be circulated to Members generally, but only to such Members as shall signify on a slip before the 23rd inst. that they desire to receive copies as issued. In the absence of any notification from a Member that he desires to be supplied with copies, the supply will be discontinued as from the 9th proximo. The reasons for that action in another place are obvious, and I hope I shall not be wrong in suggesting that they apply equally to ourselves. It is clear that there must be a very considerable expenditure—I might almost say in some cases a waste—of material, labour, and paper in the circulation, every day, to all members of your Lordships' House, wherever they may be and in whatever part of the country they reside, of the Minutes of Proceedings of this House; and the measure of restraint which in the public interest the Speaker has suggested that the House of Commons should apply to itself, and which that House has accepted, I am sure your Lordships will be willing, in the public interest, to accept for yourselves.
§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTONI hope I may, unless I hear to the contrary, assume the assent of your Lordships' House.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWEMy Lords, as the noble Earl appears to expect acquiescence, I may say that so far as I am concerned I most cheerfully give it. I think probably there is a great waste of paper, and I am quite sure that what 512 applies to the Minutes may not also apply to a considerable proportion of the Bills. A very large number of Bills, some of them occupying considerable space and not perhaps dearly cherished by those who receive them, are circulated with the Minutes to, I suppose, all members of your Lordships' House. I should have thought that some restriction might possibly be exercised with respect to Bills as well as in respect of the Journal, Minutes and daily entries of business. I do not know whether the noble Earl has any views on this point. It may be difficult to discriminate as between Bills which are of general interest and special importance and those which are not, but a great many of the Bills which are received by your Lordships find their way, I am afraid, to the waste paper basket, and are not studied.
§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTONI think the remarks of the noble Marquess are most pertinent, and for my part I entirely agree with them. I recall very well, in the proceedings on the Representation of the People Bill, how day after day we saw on this Table, and we ourselves received, constant reprints, voluminous in character, during the different stages of that Bill, and I thought at the time that it might be possible, and if possible it certainly ought to be done, to practise some economy in that respect. I will consult with the Clerks at the Table and see whether some restriction cannot be applied to Bills as well as to other Papers.
§ VISCOUNT HALDANEMy Lords, may I inquire how we are to know the business of the day? Is any notification to be sent as to what business will be taken? Unless something is circulated giving the business of the day, members of your Lordships' House will be compelled to ask for the Minutes and Papers for which a great many of them would not otherwise ask. If we could have from day to day the business that was to be taken on the next day, many noble Lords would not ask for the Minutes and Papers.
§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTONIt is true, of course, that a statement appears in the Press every morning as to the general nature of the business to be taken in your Lordships' House. But I do not assume that there would be a complete stoppage of the circulation of Papers. I thought 513 that the noble and learned Viscount would have been—like myself and other noble Lords—one of the favoured ones, and would receive the Papers. If the proposal is accepted, the Papers would be circulated to noble Lords living in London and constant in their attendance at your Lordships' House, and we should escape the sending of Papers to noble Lords living at a great distance and not attending here at all.
§ VISCOUNT HALDANEI quite agree with that. But may I point out that unless some provision is made for telling noble Lords the Bills that are to be taken and the Motions to be considered, they would not get the information in any other way. It does not appear in the newspapers now, and they would be compelled to ask for the whole of the Papers, thereby leading to a great deal of waste. If some provision could be made, by means of a single sheet, which would acquaint us with what business is to be taken, a great many members would abstain from asking for anything more.
EARL CURZON or KEDLESTONI should not like to answer on the spur of the moment, but I will consult with the Clerks at the Table on the matter.
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHMay I make a suggestion to the noble Earl? It is that any change that is made should be done by a Resolution of the House, so that we should know where we are, and that such and such Papers cannot be got in future.
§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTONWith the permission of tire House, I will consider the various suggestions that have been made and make a brief statement on the matter to-morrow.