§ THE MARQUESS CURZON OF KEDLESTONMy Lords, I do not know whether the noble and learned Lord, Lord Parmoor, is in a position to make any further statement to us as to the course of business.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (LORD PARMOOR)My Lords, I think that the proper course would be that Standing Orders No. XXI and No. XXXIX be considered to-morrow in order that the remaining stages of the Housing Bill may be taken first and then the Commons Amendment to an Amendment made by this House to the London Traffic Bill and their Reasons for disagreeing with certain Amendments, which I imagine are not likely to take long. After that will come the Committee stage of the Agricultural Wages Bill. This1 is an important matter for which we want to have time and Tuesday's business was arranged so that we should have plenty of time to consider that Bill. Next to that will come the Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Bill, and then there will be the ordinary formal Orders. With regard to Wednesday I do not know whether the noble Marquess would be prepared that the House should sit as early as eleven o'clock. There may be some matters standing over and if we met at that hour there would be an opportunity of dealing, if necessary, with any questions that were passing between the two Houses. I do not know about the question which was raised by the noble Marquess just now—I say nothing about that. But, apart from that, I think there is a hope that both the other House and this House may adjourn on Wednesday.
§ VISCOUNT YOUNGER OF LECKIEThe noble and learned Lord said nothing about the Public Health (Scotland) Amendment Bill, which I understand is to be taken very early to-morrow.
§ LORD PARMOORThat is in the hands of the noble Lord, Lord Muir Mackenzie. I understand that either it will have to be settled or there will be a difficulty in getting further with the Bill before the adjournment, and I suppose that the noble Viscount would not object to that.
§ VISCOUNT YOUNGER OF LECKIEI should not in the least object to a settlement.
§ LORD PARMOORIt will be considered. But the noble Lord will speak about that. As regards Wednesday, I think it would be convenient to meet as early as eleven o'clock.
§ THE MARQUESS CURZON OF KEDLESTONMy Lords, personally it does not matter to me whether I am here at eleven or twelve o'clock, but, if I may be permitted to say so, I rather dislike the way in which we are being hustled at this end of the Session. Your Lordships have shown a really extraordinary desire in every way to meet the convenience of Ministers and to do justice to the various measures which they are bringing before us, but I am inclined to think that there is no special reason for meeting on Wednesday at eleven o'clock. My own inclination would be to ask the noble and learned Lord to adhere to the plan which we have hitherto adopted when we have had an early sitting, of meeting at noon.
§ LORD PARMOORI should not like to have any question with the noble Marquess and therefore I suggest that we do meet at noon. The noble Marquess will understand that at this time of the Session there are some difficulties in arranging our business.