UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BILL. (Hansard, 29 June 1921)

THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD)
My Lords, I submit the Motion which stands in the name of my noble friend, the Leader of the House, in relation to this Bill, namely, "That Standing Order No. XXXIX be suspended for this day's sitting in order to take the First and Second Readings of the said Bill." I regret that at this stage of the session it should be necessary to invite the House to suspend the Standing Orders in relation to a Bill, and particularly to a Bill of this importance. The House of Commons tried so to arrange their business as to secure that this Bill should reach this House in time to make any such Motion unnecessary, but unfortunately there was an unexpected pressure of business, and the Bill passed through that House only yesterday. My noble friend, Lord Clarendon, who will explain the provisions of the Bill to your Lordships, will make it clear why it is necessary that the Bill should receive the Royal Assent, as we hope it may receive it, to-morrow.

§ THE EARL OF SELBORNE
It is quite impossible.

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD
My noble friend will explain the reason why he is going to ask the House to pass this suspension of the Standing Orders to-day, and equally the change of the Standing Orders to-morrow, and he will explain to your Lordships that unless we can get the Royal Assent by Thursday the increase of cost to the Exchequer will probably be £500,000 sterling. That is the reason why I invite your Lordships to accept the Motion which 844 stands in Lord Curzon's name. and I beg to move accordingly.
Moved, That Standing Order No. XXXIX be suspended for this day's sitting in order to take the First and Second Readings of the Unemployment Insurance Bill.—(The Earl of Crawford.)

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
My Lords, when my noble friend, the First Commissioner of Works, gave notice yesterday that he proposed to make this Motion, I suggested to your Lordships that it would be unwise to enter into any engagement that we should accept such a Motion without further consideration. I am afraid that further consideration which we have been able to give to this measure, very brief as it has been, has not encouraged us to hope that we can assent to the course which the Government have proposed— namely, to take the First and Second Readings of this Bill to-day, and the remaining stages to-morrow. The noble Earl has stated that there is a special reason why this Bill should be passed by a certain day. I have learned from long experience to be a little distrustful of these special reasons, for I notice that when these solemn warnings are disregarded no sinister consequences generally follow. But I suppose, whatever may be the special reason in this case, that that reason was as well known to the House of Commons and to the Government as it is to my noble friend opposite. Why, then, has the Bill been presented to your Lordships at this late day?
I should have thought it would have been a more effective way of stating his case if the noble Earl had been able to say when this Bill was introduced into the House of Commons; how long it has been before the House of Commons; and how many days at each stage the House of Commons has been able to give it. Then, at any rate, we should know with what gravity the House of Commons regarded this Bill. I do not pretend to have a special knowledge of this measure myself, but I am informed that there is a very important Amendment which will have to be moved to it, and it would not be respectful to your Lordships that we should move an Amendment to a Bill of this kind without proper Notice. And Notice given to-night, to appear for the first time to-morrow, in relation to an Amendment affecting some very important financial interests at the 845 present moment, would not be a proper way to treat your Lordships or the country. Financial interests are of great importance in these days; I do not think that any of your Lordships would be disposed to cavil at such an observation.
Therefore, I do not see how we can assent to the view of the noble Earl, and I would invite him or someone on his behalf, before this Motion is put to the House, to add a little to the information which he has given, and to amend the programme of the Government in order that your Lordships may have that full opportunity of considering this important measure with the deliberation which it is our business to give to it.

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD
Does Lord Salisbury mean to amend the Motion that is on the Paper, so as to take more days over the Bill?

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
No. Of course, your Lordships may decide against it, but it would be impossible for us willingly to consent to take the remaining stages of this Bill to-morrow.

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD
I am only asking that two stages should be taken to-day.

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
But we want an engagement from the Government, if you please.

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD
An engagement that we will not finish the Bill tomorrow?

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
Please.

THE EARL OF CRAWFORD
After what I have told your Lordships I think you will understand that I cannot agree to that. It is easy for Lord Salisbury to say that the Departments exaggerate the dangers of delay, but my information is that unless this Bill is passed on Thursday next, which is indeed a very late day to bring into effect the new arrangements it lays down, the postponement will involve a continuation of the existing rates of benefit, which would cost the taxpayer £500,000. That is the urgent reason why I felt myself justified in inviting your Lordships to take the remaining stages tomorrow.

§ THE EARL OF SELBORNE
My Lords, I want to give the Government fair notice. I am going to put down an Amendment on behalf of all the banks in the United Kingdom and the Bank Clerks' Association. It is a matter of vital interest to the whole banking interest of this country, and I shall resist to the utmost of my power— at any cost— the taking of this Bill through all its stages to-morrow.