§ VISCOUNT HALDANEMy Lords, there are three questions which I wish to ask the noble Marquess who leads the House. The first is whether be can give us any indication of what is likely to be the course of public business. The second is whether he can tell us if we are likely to receive any further Papers about Locarno. And the third is whether he can give us any indication of a convenient time at which we could take a discussion upon Locarno, which is a very important matter. Of course, all those things must be subject to the convenience of the Government. Perhaps, the noble Marquess would be able to indicate to us what would be convenient?
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, I am very glad to respond as far as I am able to the questions of the noble and learned Viscount. I do not see much prospect towards the beginning of these Sittings of any very great demand being made upon your Lordships' efforts; but with the consent of your Lordships, I thought of putting down for Thursday in this week the Second Reading of the Criminal Justice Bill which, I understand, is to be read a third time in the House of Commons to-night. That will not give your Lordships quite so long a time for considering it as is usual with a Bill of that importance, but, as your Lordships are aware, it is an old friend.
§ VISCOUNT HALDANEWe have considered it.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYAnd, therefore, we shall make its acquaintance again with ease. I thought of putting down on the same day the Public Health (Scotland) Amendment Bill. I believe my noble and learned friend, Lord Carson, is putting down the Moneylenders Bill for the same day. I think he has already placed it on the Paper and so it will have precedence of the Government Order. I am hoping, too, that the Tithe Bill will be with us before very long, though I cannot, of course, speak with absolute confidence about that because it depends upon the progress of business in another place. I hope, however, to be able to take that Bill on Thursday week. It is a measure of great importance and your Lordships will want several days in which to look 803 at it before it is actually considered. Then, on the Tuesday following, we can, perhaps, take the Committee stage of the Criminal Justice Bill. I do not think it is possible to forecast any more of the actual business because there are no other matters which are in your Lordships' House and the other Bills must depend upon the progress of business in another place.
Then comes the question of Locarno. I understand the noble and learned Viscount's wish to discuss this very important subject, and I thought that if Tuesday of next week would suit him it ought to be a very convenient day as there is nothing down on the Paper. As to Papers, do not know whether there are any ready yet; if there are, of course they shall be laid. If the noble and learned Viscount will permit me, I will make the necessary inquiries.
§ LORD PARMOORMy Lords, might I ask the noble Viscount a question of which I have given him private notice? 804 I have a Question on the Paper referring to the last Council meeting at Geneva. Can the noble Viscount say whether the White Paper will be published before the date on which my Question comes to be asked, Wednesday week?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (VISCOUNT CECIL OF CHELWOOD)My Lords, I am informed that the Report on the recent meetings of the Council at. Geneva will be ready this week.
§ LORD PARMOORI am very much obliged to the noble Viscount.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, there will be no business therefore, as I ventured to explain to your Lordships, until next Thursday, but there will have to be a formal sitting to-morrow in order to receive the Criminal Justice Bill from the Commons.
§ House adjourned at twenty minutes past four o'clock.