BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 3 August 1921)

THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD)
My Lords, in moving that this House do now 206 adjourn, I ask leave to make not a precise statement but one which I think will prove to be a general statement of what is proposed for next week's business. I say at once that it is somewhat tentative, but I have consulted many persons and I believe that it probably will be to the general convenience of your Lordships as a whole. It is proposed to take on Tuesday next the Second Reading of the Licensing Bill; on Wednesday the Territorial Army and Militia Bill, the Report stage of the Bill with which we have been dealing to-day, and, if possible, we should like to get the Third Reading of it also on that day; on Thursday the Second Reading of the Railways Bill; on Friday the Committee stage of the Licensing Bill. Probably on Monday, August 15, we shall enter upon the Committee stage of the Railways Bill. Your Lordships will be able to read my statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT to-morrow.

THE MARQUESS OF CREWE
May I ask the noble Earl whether I am right in thinking that it is proposed to take tomorrow the Committee stage of the Bill which has just been read a second time?

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD
Yes, if you please.

THE MARQUESS OF CREWE
It is likely to occupy a full sitting I should think, and I suppose in the event of its not being finished in the afternoon the noble Earl will ask the House to meet on Friday to complete it.

PILE EARL OF CRAWFORD
There are a large number of Amendments, but I understand that my noble friend, Lord Ancaster, has been in communication with a number of your Lordships who are putting down Amendments. It is no use Lord Bledisloe shaking his head. He has.

§ LORD BLEDISLOE
He may have selected some.

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD
And I believe has agreed with them.

THE MARQUESS OF CREWE
Not all, evidently.

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD
Certainly not all, but all Amendments that will come forward are not necessarily contentious Amendments. I do not know if your 207 Lordships would desire to sit on Friday without earlier notice than we shall be able to give to-morrow. I express the hope that we may be able to finish the Committee stage to-morrow.

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
It does not do to assume too confidently that we shall be able to finish it to-morrow, but I share with the noble Earl opposite the most urgent hope that we shall be able to do so. It may be that it would go over, and in that case probably a Friday sitting would be the most convenient course. I want to put in a word of caution about taking the Third Reading and Report stages on the same day (Wednesday), because it is an additional difficulty, in these hurried discussions, that little mistakes are made, and, unless they can be rectified, it ends in great heart-burning afterwards. Your Lordships are well aware that for the purpose of finally checking what is done on Report, there must be 208 an interval between Report and Third Reading, because no Amendments can be taken upon Third Reading, except after Notice. Therefore, I suggest that the noble Earl should not rely too much upon taking the Third Reading of this Bill on the same day as the Report stage.

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD
I do not rely upon it. It is a hope, and no more. I move now that the House do adjourn, and, as the Judicial Sittings have come to an end, our normal hour of meeting will be 3.45 p.m.

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
That is to say, you take Public Business at 4 o'clock.

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD
No, at a quarter to four.