NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE (COST OF MEDICAL BENEFIT) BILL. (Hansard, 13 May 1924)

EARL DE LA WAKE
My Lords, I understand that there is a feeling in a certain portion of the House that more time should be given for the consideration of this Bill, and I am entirely in your Lordships' hands as to when we should go into Committee upon it. Perhaps I may point out to you that this Bill, before it went to the House, of Commons, was one that was agreed by all parties outside, and that it came to us as a Bill which had been agreed in the House of Commons. Furthermore, in the words of the noble Earl, Lord Onslow, on the Second Reading, the Bill is a necessary Bill and cannot, be postponed, because the doctors are performing their work and the money must be found. Therefore, although I am entirely in your hands as to when we should take the Committee stage, I hope that you will find it convenient to take it as soon as possible. I will formally move that the House do go into Committee on the Bill.

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Earl for being good enough to consider the objection which I made. I venture to say that as a general rule no Bill should be taken in Committee of this House on the next sitting day after it has been read a second time. That is a good sound rule, and if I may be allowed to refer to my own experience, I remember that when I sat on the Government Bench, and there was a vigilant Opposition, I was never 390 allowed to do anything of that kind except under duress and occasionally, of course, in regard to Money Bills. In the ordinary way that rule was enforced, and I think it is very desirable that we should return to that principle in this House. If this House is to do its duty as a Legislative Chamber it must be given time to think over these things. It is nothing to do with this House that a Bill has been agreed outside. Indeed, I have a good deal of suspicion of these bargains which are entered into by people outside this House, and possibly it is more necessary to consider bargains of that kind than it is to consider Bills not founded upon any such agreement between interested parties.

§ LORD PARMOOR
I quite appreciate the point made by the noble Earl, and if it will suit him I will move that the debate be adjourned until Thursday next,

§ LORD BANBURY OF SOUTHAM
My Lords, I should like to say that I felt very nervous when the noble Earl, Lord De La Warr, said that this was an agreed Bill. I have had some experience of agreed Bills, and the practice has arisen lately of people outside making bargains with members of the Government and then coming down and saying: "This is an agreed Bill." As a rule when this takes place it is more than usually necessary for this Horse and the other House to consider the actual provisions of the Bill, because these bargains are usually made not in the interest of the nation, but of one particular party. I hope that we shall have at least a week in which to consider what Amendments, if any, should be put down. It is impossible to go through a Bill of this description and consider whether, or not, Amendments should be put down, unless you have at least a week in which to make up your mind.

§ LORD PARMOOR
May I interrupt? This Bill was read a second time on Thursday last, so that if we postpone the Committee stage till Thursday next there will have been a week's interval between the two stages.

§ LORD BANBURY OF SOUTHAM
It is a week, but let me joint out that this House adjourns on Thursday till Tuesday, and a good many noble Lords go away 391 for the week-end. I do not say whether that is a good thing or a bad thing, but what is really wanted is a week of sitting days. I suggest that Tuesday next would be a much better day.

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
I did not rise before because it would have been out of order. For my own part I will do my best to be ready on Thursday next. I want to be frank with the House. I wrote to a friend of mine, and I hope to place on the Paper to-morrow any Amendments which he thinks necessary. If he 392 does as I expect, I shall be delighted to do that.