§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I do not know whether the Leader of the House would now allow me to put a 8 Question to him of which I gave private notice yesterday—namely, whether he can tell us what business it is likely that your Lordships' House will be called upon to consider in the course of the next few days or weeks.
§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTONMy Lords, in reply to the Question of the noble Marquess, the Government intend to proceed with the Government of Ireland Bill and the Agriculture Bill with all possible speed in another place, but it is not possible for me at this moment to give any definite date at which either or both will reach your Lordships' House. I am told there is a possibility that the Agriculture Bill may have passed through all its stages in the House of Commons in about a fortnight's time from now. There is another small Bill in which noble Lords take an interest, and that is the Proprietary Medicines Bill, which passed through Committee stage in this House before we adjourned last August. As regards the further stages of this Bill, I am in a position to state that the Report stage cannot be proceeded with here for another fortnight, or possibly longer, as the Ministry of Health are engaged in considering Amendments that it may be desirable to move. In these circumstances, and, as there is, so far as I know, no business immediately before us until we come to the Motion which stands in the name of Lord Parmoor on October 27, I propose at the conclusion of our proceedings to-night—assuming that the debate on Ireland is concluded this evening—to move, with your Lordships' approval, that the House should adjourn until Wednesday, October 27.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWEMy Lords, I raise no objection to the proposal which the noble Earl has just made. It is quite evident that we cannot have any very serious business for the next fortnight or so. It may be, of course, that some noble Lord will desire to raise a debate on some subject not concerned with immediate legislation, and, if so, I have no doubt the noble Earl will give opportunities for such a debate. The noble Earl has mentioned the Agriculture Bill, which is one with which your Lordships will be closely concerned. I am glad to know that there is a prospect of our having, so far as we can see, a full period of time for its discussion, and I express the hope that every consideration to the convenience of the 9 House will be shown in fixing the period at which the different stages of the Bill will be taken.
LORD ORANMORE AND BROWNEMy Lords, may I ask what steps the Government propose to take with regard to the Land Purchase (Ireland) Bill. The Lord Chancellor, in reply to a Question put by me in the earlier part of the session, said that it was the intention of the Government to take it pari passu with the Government of Ireland Bill. The noble Earl has intimated that the Government propose to proceed with the Government of Ireland Bill with the least possible delay. I should be glad to know, therefore, whether it is proposed that the Land Purchase Bill should come before your Lordships' House at an early date.
§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTONThat is a question which I should not like to answer without some examination of the point which my noble friend has raised, always bearing in mind the assurance which I understand was given by the Lord Chancellor earlier in the session.