HL Deb 15 March 1923 vol 53 cc410-2
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

My Lords, I move that your Lordships do now adjourn until Tuesday next.

Moved, That the House do now adjourn until Tuesday next.—(The Marquess of Salisbury.)

LORD NEWTON

My Lords, on the Motion that the House do now adjourn I should like to ask my noble friend a question with regard to business. On Thursday of next week I have an important Notice on the Paper (respecting the attendances of Peers) in which a large number of noble Lords are interested. I fixed that date in conjunction with them a long time ago, and it would be a great inconvenience if we are unable to bring it forward on that day, because we shall have no further opportunity to do so this side of Easter. I should like to ask my noble friend whether he would be good enough to give me an undertaking not to take the Second Reading of the Bill which is coming up from the House of Commons on that day, or, if he is unable to give me that under- taking, perhaps he will be good enough to promise that he will not put it down as the first Order on that day.

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)

My Lords, your Lordships are Aware that the Government have not complete control of the business of your Lordships' House, as they have in another place, and I do not think it will be possible for me to enter into an absolute engagement that my noble friend's place on the Paper should be maintained, for some other Peer might come in before him. But so far as the Government are concerned we shall do our very utmost to meet my noble friend. There is a Bill which I mentioned yesterday, the Unemployment Insurance Bill, which we expect to have in your Lordships' House even earlier than I predicted yesterday. We hope it will arrive on Tuesday. I desire to take this opportunity of consulting your Lordships' convenience in respect of that Bill. I do not know yet how far it might be controversial, but I imagine that it would not at any rate be controversial so far as the Second Reading is concerned. In that event the most convenient course, if it please the House, would be to take the Second Reading on Wednesday; that is, the day after it reaches your Lordships' House. This would allow of considerable interval between that stage and the Committee stage, which would be the critical stage, for your Lordships to take whatever steps may seem good to you in putting Amendments on the Paper if you desire to do so.

If that course commends itself to the House we propose to take the Committee and remaining stages on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the following week, Thursday being, as the House knows, the day upon which, according to present arrangements, the House will adjourn for the Easter Recess. Perhaps it will not be possible to take the Bill on Thursday, because Amendments might have to go back to the Commons, but shall we say that we will deal with the remaining stages on Tuesday and Wednesday? There will also be a Monday sitting that week, so that there will be ample opportunity to deal with the Bill. If it suits the convenience of the House, therefore, I propose to take the Second Reading on Wednesday next.

LORD ASKWITH

Is the noble Marquess able to inform the House whether the Unemployment Insurance Bill is a financial Bill or not, and whether it will be feasible to make Amendments?

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

It will be rather difficult to give an opinion on that point until we have seen the exact tenour of the Bill.

EARL BEAUCHAMP

My Lords, like the noble Marquess opposite I do not know whether there is likely to be any opposition to the Bill, but generally speaking I think the arrangements which he has suggested will meet the convenience of your Lordships' House. Perhaps the noble Marquess will allow me to make the same appeal as has just been addressed to him by the noble Lord who sits behind him, that any Government measure which is put down for Wednesday should come at the end, after any Notice already on the Paper, because there is an important Question on the Paper for that date.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

I cannot enter into any engagement with either of my noble friends. I can only promise to do my best.

LORD NEWTON

I am much obliged to the noble Marquess.

House adjourned at twenty-five minutes past five o'clock.