§ VISCOUNT HALDANEMy Lords, I should like to ask the noble Earl the Chairman of Committees whether he is now in a position to give the House any information with regard to the Great Northern Railway Bill.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE)My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Viscount for putting the Question. Your Lordships 349 will remember that this Bill was down for Second Reading yesterday and Lord Ampthill gave Notice of his intention to move its rejection. For that reason we put the debate off until Tuesday next. The noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury, asked me if it was quite certain the debate would come on next Tuesday, and I replied that I thought it would. Since yesterday, however, the promoters have further considered the position. I have gathered from private conversations that the objection of noble Lords who oppose the Bill is to Clause 31 of the measure—a rating clause. I have not taken any part in the discussions beyond the fact that I have seen the promoters, and I understand that if the Bill is read a second time and reaches Committee, they are prepared to withdraw Clause 31. It was for the convenience of your Lordships that I thought this announcement should be made at once; and in that case I hope there will be no objection to the Second Reading next Tuesday.