HL Deb 03 August 1920 vol 41 cc714-6
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD)

My Lords, in moving the adjournment of the House I beg to give notice that tomorrow, after the Motion by Lord Wester Wemyss about Turkey, the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack will move the Second Reading of the Indemnity Bill. That will be followed by the Committee stage of the Mines Bill and by other Departmental or non-controversial Bills already on the Paper. Thursday will be devoted to the Irish debate. On Friday I propose to move the Second Reading of the Ministry of Food Bill, and the Lord Chancellor will take the Committee stage of the Juvenile Courts Bill. The Proprietary Medicines Bill, of which my noble friend Lord Astor is in charge, will also be taken in Committee.

As regards the business for next week, I cannot yet specify dates, but your Lordships are apprised of the fact that an emergency Bill dealing with Irish Courts will reach us from another place. I understand, therefore, that my noble friend Lord Curzon will on Monday next move the suspension of Standing Order No. XXXIX for the remainder of the sittings prior to the autumn adjournment. Business for the week will be the Irish Bill, the Committee and subsequent stages of the Indemnity Bill, the Committee stage of the Ministry of Food Bill, the Report stage of the Mines Bill, and the Third Reading and remaining stages of the Mines and Ministry of Food Bills.

THE MARQUESS OF CREWE

My Lords, I am very much obliged to the noble Earl for giving us so full an account of what he proposes as the business up to the adjournment. An announcement which I think would strike your Lordships as a strange one in ordinary circumstances was the proposal to take the Committee stage of the Mines Bill to-morrow, but I understand that in view of the special circumstances of the case that course has found acceptance with those who are desiring to move Amendments to the Bill, and that the Amendments will duly appear on the Paper. The noble Earl did not, as a matter of fact, accompany that announcement with any apology, which perhaps might have been expected, because there obviously is a very short interval of time for the consideration of such Amendments.

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD

I should like to say that I myself did not suggest that the Bill should be taken to-morrow. It was noble Lords who are specially concerned in the subject who pressed it upon me.

THE MARQUESS OF CREWE

Very naturally in that case the noble Earl would not feel called upon to draw special attention to the fact. As regards the other Bills, I think we may all agree that His Majesty's Government are making the best use of the limited time at their disposal, and I hope it will be possible to give reasonable consideration to those measures during what is left of this week and that part of next week which is to be devoted to them.

On Question, Motion agreed to, and House adjourned accordingly.

House adjourned at five minutes before seven o'clock.