§ THE LORD PRESIDENT or THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, I beg to make the Motion standing in the name of my noble friend the Leader of the House, namely:—"That Standing Order No. XXI be considered in order to its being suspended for this day's sitting, and that the Committee Stage of the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Bill [H.L.] have precedence 586 of the other Notices and Orders of the day." I might perhaps explain to your Lordships that this Resolution, which, of course, is not an ordinary resolution though it is by no means unprecedented just before an adjournment, is caused by the fact that the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Bill, an important Bill which interests several of your Lordships, was down for the Committee stage last Thursday, but, owing to the long continuance of the debate in front of it, could not then he taken. It is important that this Bill should pass through its various stages before the Easter adjournment. Full time has been allowed to the House to consider the measure between the several stages. If it were delayed any longer to-day it might be difficult to conclude the Bill as desired. Therefore it is thought right to put it down to-day and to provide ample opportunity for discussing it,
When my noble friend proposed to put down this Motion a Question in the name of my noble friend Lord Astor, an important Question on housing, was on the Paper for to-day, but the noble Viscount has postponed it until after Easter. If the debate on that subject had preceded the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Bill, the latter might have been reached rather late. I hope your Lordships will understand the reasons why this Motion was put on the Paper. If there were any feeling in any quarter of the House against the proposal I do not think that it would be desirable to press it, but I shall, of course, move it its it stands upon the Order Paper.
§ Moved, That Standing Order No. XXI be considered in order to its being suspended for this day's sitting, and that the Committee Stage of the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Bill [H.L.] have precedence of the other Notices and Orders of the Day.—(The Marquess of Salisbury.)
§ EARL BUXTONMy Lords, I do not think there will be any objection whatever to this Motion. Indeed, it is in conformity with. I will not say an agreement, but an arrangement reached on Thursday, to which I assented on behalf of noble Lords sitting by me. Certainly there will be no objection so far as I am concerned.
§ LORD ASKWITHI am moving the Second Reading of the next Bill on the Paper, and I have no objection to the Motion.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI am much obliged to the noble Lords.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.