HL Deb 24 July 1919 vol 35 cc1060-1

Clause 20, page 15, line 27, after ("solely") insert ("may exceed two-thirds but")

The Commons disagree to this Amendment for the following reason: Because it affects the powers of the Public Works Loans Commissioners to advance money; and the Commons consider that it is unnecessary on their part to offer any further reason, hoping that the above reason may be deemed sufficient.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

In Clause 20, page 15, line 27, your Lordships made an Amendment, after "solely," by inserting "may exceed two-thirds but." On this the Commons said that they regarded it as a privilege Amendment. I think it is only due to Dr. Addison, who was in charge of the Bill, to say that he made a most gallant attempt to get the House to take a sane view, but Mr. Speaker gave a definite ruling upon the point. I do not know whether the noble Marquess will wish to carry the matter further. In order to afford him an opportunity of making such observations as occur to him, I move that the House should not insist upon this Amendment.

Moved, That this House doth not insist upon the said Amendment.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

I do not think I was personally responsible for inducing your Lordships to insert this Amendment in the Bill, and I do not desire to be father to it now. I do not know enough about the merits of it to urge it upon your Lordships. With reference to what the noble and learned Lord upon the Woolsack has just said, I am very glad that the right hon. Dr. Addison did his best to prevent this excessive plea of privilege being used for the purpose of opposing an Amendment which went down to the House of Commons from this House. It does not appear to be necessary to discuss the matter any further on the present occasion, because I personally do not propose upon the substance of the matter to ask your Lordships to insist upon the Amendment. I do not know what other Lords may do.

But I am quite sure of this, that the time has gone by when the country will allow really good Amendments, sent from this House to the House of Commons, to be blocked merely on the ground of privilege. If the House of Commons do not agree with our Amendments it is very possible they are wiser than we are. On the merits they may be perfectly right and we may be perfectly wrong, and we should, of course, be only too glad then to accept their view, if we were convinced. But to be told that, although the Amendment may be good, yet, because it offends this obscure rule of privilege, the country is to lose the advantage of a good provision in the law—I am quite sure the time has gone by when the country will endure it. On the present occasion I have nothing to say on the merits of the question. I would not have said so ranch as I have but for the kind observations of the noble and learned Lord. I do not propose to carry the matter further, and I shall not resist the Motion that is made.

On Question, Motion agreed to.