§ VISCOUNT CAVEMy Lords, before the business of the House commences may I, on behalf of my noble friend, Lord Curzon, ask the noble and learned Viscount on the Woolsack whether he can say what the Government propose with regard to the Easter adjournment?
THE LORD CHANCELLOR VISCOUNT HALDANEMy Lords, the Government desire to consult the convenience of the House in this matter. If we rise on the 5th of this month probably there would be no business ready for us immediately after the other House resumes its sittings. I thought we might adjourn for a week longer than the other House. It is suggested that the other House shall meet again on the 29th. We need not sit in that case till the following Tuesday, May 6, which would give us a week longer than the other House. If that arrangement meets with the convenience of the House, I would propose that we should adopt it, subject to this. One never knows what emergencies may turn up, and it will be well to pass the Motion in the form which we have adopted on former occasions, and under which the Lord Chancellor would have power to convene a sitting of the House in case of emergency.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPMy Lords, I shall not offer any opposition to the suggestion made by the noble and learned Viscount, but what I would submit is that it is not very convenient to ask your Lordships to come back and sit on Tuesday, the 15th, only. It is depriving members of the House of the opportunity 112 of being away for a considerably longer period. If we were to sit on the Thursday in the preceding week, and, if necessary, meet also on Friday, I venture to think that would be much more convenient to your Lordships' House. Perhaps when the noble and learned Viscount finds whether or not that will be convenient, he will be good enough to take it into consideration.