§ THE EARL OF SELBORNE had the following Question on the Paper—To ask the Leader of the House when the House may expect that the Resolutions embodying the proposals of the Government for the reform of the House of Lords will be presented to it.
§ The noble Earl said: My Lords, I have put this Question on the Paper because, although this is a matter on which His Majesty's Government are deeply pledged, and on which, as my noble friend who is going to answer the Question knows, the 1132 Party to which he and I belong feel very strongly, I do not think anything has been said on this subject by His Majesty's Government since the early days of the session. Now, as we are approaching the Easter vacation, it becomes of great interest and importance for us all to know when His Majesty's Government propose to bring their Resolutions before this House.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDMy Lords, as my noble friend has reminded the House, this question was raised early in the session, and the noble Marquess, Lord Curzon, who desires me to apologise for his absence—he is again confined to his house—stated that he hoped to present these Resolutions before Easter. When he made that statement he did not foresee that he would have to go to Paris, or that he would be laid up by indisposition; still less that he personally would have to attend the Genoa Conference, to which he is bidden. The result has been that my noble friend has been unable to present these Resolutions to your Lordships. I think the House generally will agree that Resolutions of so far-reaching a character should be presented in person by Lord Curzon. He is Leader of the House and at the same time he is Chairman of the Committee which has been mainly responsible for preparing the scheme. He is also most anxious that when your Lordships take up the subject two or, if necessary, three days of uninterrupted attention and consideration should be given to it. This combination of his own frequent absence front England and the impossibility of getting two or three days in sequence for discussing the Resolutions have made him fail to implement the hope that they would be presented before Easter.
One other reason for making it necessary to postpone the Resolutions is that my noble and learned friend who occupies the Woolsack will be away for three or four weeks owing to the affliction to his eyes, and I personally should be sorry if these matters were discussed before he, who has been closely concerned in their preparation, should be in attendance to support the proposals of the Government. It is clearly impossible, therefore, that Lord Curzon can present them before the end of the Genoa Conference. He hopes to be able to do so as soon after his return as can be conveniently arranged.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMay we take it, then, that these Resolutions have been finally determined and it is only a question of when they are to be presented?
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDI cannot say that they have been quite finally determined, but they have reached such a stage of evolution that at very short notice they could be presented to your Lordships.
§ THE EARL OF SELBORNECan the noble Earl tell us what his hopes are as to when the Genoa Conference will be over?
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDThat I certainly cannot answer any more than Signor Schanzer, but I hope Lord Curzon himself will he back soon after your Lordships re-assemble.
§ THE EARL OF SELBORNEDoes the noble Earl mean that it is the present intention of His Majesty's Government to introduce these Resolutions, if possible, soon after we re-assemble after Easter?
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDSoon after Easter. I cannot give your Lordships any definite date, but as soon after Easter as possible.
§ [From Minutes of March 31.]