§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I do not know whether I might be allowed to put a question to the Government before we begin—a question affecting public business, which I ask for the convenience of the House. The Ministry of Ways and Communications Bill stands for Committee to-day, but rather low down upon the list, and it would be convenient to your Lordships if we knew what day the Committee will stand adjourned to in the event of our not finishing, or getting near finishing, the Committee stage this evening.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD)Your Lordships will observe that we have a number of Orders on the Paper to-day, but I fancy some of them will not take very long. Two or three speeches, I understand, are to be delivered on the Finance Bill. The Committee stage of the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Bill, which is in charge of the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack, is not to be taken to-day. The Report stage of the Local Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill will, I gather, be very short.
§ LORD PARMOORQuite formal.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDThen we come to the Ministry of Ways and Communications Bill.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYThere are three Motions on the Paper as well.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDI do not think Lord Stanhope's Motion is likely to take very long, and in any event we have to face the fact that we have to begin the Ministry of Ways and Com- 4 munications Bill, and I hope that we shall sit reasonably late to make as much progress as possible. With regard to a second day, I suggest that the Bill be put down to-morrow. To-morrow we shall have the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Bill carried over from today; the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Bill, in the name of the Lord Chancellor, which I do not think is likely to run very long; the Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Bill, in Committee, and the National Health Insurance Bill, in Committee, neither of which Bills raise matters of acute contention. Lord Weardale has his Checkweighing in Various Industries Bill, which will be very short and formal, and the Land Settlement (Facilities) Bill, which is down for Second Reading, will perhaps excite a certain amount of discussion. After that, I propose that we shall continue to-morrow evening with the Amendments on the Ministry of Ways and Communications Bill. I do not think I can express any opinion as to the day next week, should it be necessary, on which that Bill will be put down.
§ LORD PHILLIMOREWill the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Bill keep its place to-morrow?
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYIs the noble Earl aware that at the end of business yesterday Lord Selborne asked the Leader of the House if the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Bill would be taken to-day, and he said "Yes"?
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDIf that is correct—and I have no doubt that the noble Marquess is right—I am afraid Lord Curzon did not appreciate the point. I do not know whether Lord Selborne is coming down this afternoon on the understanding that the Bill is to be taken.
§ LORD STRACHIEI heard distinctly the statement which the noble Marquess has alluded to, that the Acquisition of Land Bill was going to be taken to-day, and that is why I am here.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDThen I apologise to your Lordships for having to announce that it is not to be taken to-day.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYIt is the circumstance that the Leader of the House told us that the Acquisition of Land Bill was to be taken to-day which has naturally misled the House.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDIt will be a matter of great regret to the Leader of the House, as it is to myself, that any inconvenience should have been caused to your Lordships.