§ THE EARL OF SELBORNE had the following Notice on the Paper:—
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Honours Committee of the Privy Council has been again set up; and, if so, the names of the members; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to ask Parliament during the Session of 1925 to pass an Act making any attempt to traffic in honours illegal as recommended by Lord Dunedin's Committee.
§ LORD DANESFORTMy Lords, in the absence of my noble friend Lord Selborne, I beg to ask the Question that stands in his name on the Paper.
§ TEE LORD PRIVY SEAL(THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, the Honours Committee of the Privy Council has again been set up, and the following Privy Councillors have been good enough to signify their willingness to serve upon it and have been appointed:—Viscount Novar, Lord Merrivale, and the Rt. Hon. John Rawlinson, K.C., M.P. That is the answer to the first part of the Question. As to the second part of the noble Earl's Question, your Lordships will remember that a Bill with this object was passed through your Lordships' House under Mr. Bonar Law's Government in 1923, but was not proceeded with in the House of Commons. The matter has, of course, been under the consideration of the present Government again and the Government hope to propose legislation with the same object without delay, after having carefully considered its terms. I ought to add that, in the present condition of public business, I am not sure that I can hold out any great hope that there will be sufficient time in the House of Commons for the Bill to pass through all its stages. So far, however, as this House is concerned, there ought to be no difficulty.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before six o'clock.