§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTON)My Lords, I have pursued the inquiry that I promised yesterday into the proposed restriction in the circulation of Papers to your Lordships' House, and I now submit to you the following proposals. The only Papers which are circulated to all Peers as a matter of course are, first, the familiar Blue Paper that most of us receive every morning, which contains the Minutes of the House, Notices and Orders of the Day, and Notices of Committees; secondly, Bills and Amendments; and thirdly, certain other Command Papers—of which there are not many, but which usually appear in the form of a White Paper—which have a general circulation under the instruction of the Department concerned. Other Papers beyond these are supplied only to Peers who fill up the Pink Form with which your Lordships are familiar.
I find that considerable saving of paper can be effected by limiting the circulation of the three classes of Papers which I have described. It is suggested, following the course pursued in the House of Commons, that no Papers should he circulated as a matter of course to a Peer unless he gives notice of his desire to receive them. The present Pink Form practice will be preserved as respects Papers not belonging to the three classes of Papers having general circulation which I mentioned just now. As regards those Papers having general circulation, it is proposed that a form should be sent to each Peer containing a separate request to be filled up by him as regards each of the following categories. First, the full Minutes, as now circulated, containing the Minutes of Proceedings, the Orders of the Day, Notices for Days or "No day Named," and Notices for Committees; that is, the whole of the Blue Paper as now circulated. Secondly, Bills and Amendments. Thirdly, special Command Papers, which I just now described as White Papers, having general circula- 556 tion. I think that those proposals will meet with the general assent of your Lordships' House.
One point was raised yesterday by Lord Balfour of Burleigh—namely, whether it is desirable to proceed by Resolution in this matter. On the whole, I would ask the noble Lord not to persevere with that suggestion, for this reason. I find that it is in our power to take this action without a Resolution. If, on the other hand, a Resolution were deemed desirable, it could be taken only by Notice to-day after the Easter Recess—that is to say, we could not take it until April 9; and it would then follow that the request to noble Lords for their opinions could not be circulated until after that date. In other words, we should have a delay of three or four weeks, if not longer, before the new scheme could come into operation. On the other hand, if your Lordships sanction this procedure to-day without a Resolution, the inquiries could be addressed to noble Lords at once without further delay, and the new scheme could come into operation as soon as we recommence our proceedings after the adjournment. I hope, therefore, that your Lordships, on the whole, will be disposed to accept the suggestion I have made.
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHMy Lords, I accept, of course, the suggestion made by the noble Earl. But I suppose there will be some intimation made so that a Peer will know what his position is. My only object in desiring to proceed by Resolution was that a Peer should not be taken by surprise and find the Papers cut off without his knowing.
§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTONThe noble Lord is right about that. A circular will be sent forthwith to each Peer informing him of what has passed, and asking him to intimate his desire in the matter.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I am glad that the noble Earl has decided to select these three categories. I would say, however, with regard to the smallest category, which is the one that most of your Lordships will probably desire to have, that a distinction might properly be drawn between the Minutes and the Notices of Motion and Orders of the Day. I doubt whether any Peer ever looks at the Minutes. I believe that Paper to be useless 557 as a matter of circulation, although an occasion may arise when it is necessary to see what the actual record is, and then one could see it by coming to the House. But what is important, to those who work the ordinary business of the House is to have the actual Notices of Motion of the individual day and the Notices of Motion which are yet to come.
§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTONI had thought of the point which has been made by the noble Marquess. But, on the whole, it seemed to me unnecessary and undesirable to make the distinction he suggests, for this reason. The economy in paper and in labour would be very small, and the Minutes of the Day are the only means which your Lordships enjoy of seeing what has been the Division List on the previous day. That is a matter of some value to your Lordships' House, and I think in those circumstances it is desirable to proceed as I suggested.
VISCOUNT GALWAYI suppose that a Peer may have a copy of a particular Bill sent, although he does not demand copies of all Bills?
§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTONYes, of course.