BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 18 November 1919)

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD)

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Curzon, I beg to make the Motion standing in his name—that Standing Order No. XXXIX be suspended for this day's sitting in order to take the First and Second 300 Reading of the Industrial Courts Bill. The object of this proposal is to ensure that the Bill mentioned shall be passed into law on Friday next. It is necessary that it should then receive the Royal Assent, because upon that day expires the Wages (Temporary Regulation) Act, which was passed last year and prolonged until November 21 next, and which Act is superseded by the Industrial Courts Bill.

I very much regret having to place this Motion before your Lordships, but I think the House will understand that the explanation of the delay does not fail to carry within it a source of satisfaction, for this reason. The Government is often criticised for taking action without consulting the parties concerned. In this case consultations have been so full, and indeed so prolonged, that the expectation of getting the Bill through the House of Commons a good many days ago unfortunately failed. Then came the railway strike, which in itself produced serious dislocation in the history of these negotiations, with the result that we have to ask the House to take two stages of this Bill at to-day's sitting with a view to concluding its stages next Friday.

I could give your Lordships, if you so desired, a chronology of the negotiations about this Bill. I imagine that this will be unnecessary, because I trust that your Lordships will accept my assurance that the conferences have been frequent and have been prolonged, and it has been in order to secure the greatest possible assent among all parties concerned that the delay has taken place. The Bill, I may add, passed through the House of Commons on the Third Reading stage without any dissent. I beg to move.