§ VISCOUNT MIDLETONMy Lords, I beg to ask the noble Earl who leads the House a question of which I have given him private Notice. We understand that it is proposed to take the Second Reading of the Bill introduced by the Government with regard to Indian Reform in another place on Thursday next and then, shortly afterwards, to set up a Select Committee of both Houses. In these circumstances I would like to ask whether this House will have any opportunity of debating the Indian proposals before the appointment of the Committee of both Houses, and whether the fact that the Second Reading of the Bill is being taken this week in another place, within so very short a time of the distribution of most voluminous Papers, will be considered as in any way pledging Parliament to the adoption of the Bill.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTON)My Lords, the procedure that is contemplated is as follows. It is proposed to take the Second Reading of the Government of India Bill in another place on Thursday, and when the Second Reading has been obtained I understand that it is in contemplation to move that the Bill be referred to a Joint Committee of the two Houses of Parliament. The House of Commons can, of course, only pledge its own action by 974 such a vote, and it will remain for your Lordships to decide whether you do or do not wish to take part in the proposed Committee. Such a proceeding on your part involves a Motion here. That Motion will be made after Whitsuntide, and upon that Motion it will be open to any of your Lordships to raise a debate on the general question if you wish to do so. The answer to the first question, therefore, is in the affirmative. As regards the second question, I do not know that the procedure of the House of Commons will differ in this case from that in any other case. I assume that the assent of the House will be asked to the general principle of the Bill; and if the Second Reading be carried, it will be given. If the Joint Committee of the two Houses is set up it will be open to that Committee to make alterations in the Bill should it so desire; and therefore while the House accepts the principle of the Bill—if it passes the Second Reading in another place—it is in no sense committed to the details.
§ VISCOUNT MIDLETONMy object in asking the question was to elucidate the fact that this House is not assenting to the Preamble of a Bill, even if we join with the House of Commons, which we have not considered.