§ LORD PARMOORMy Lords, I should like to ask a question of the Leader of the House—namely, whether he can give us any information as to the probable time at which the Tithe Bill will reach this House?
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, I understand from inquiries that I have made, that there is a certain chance of both the Tithe Bill and the Criminal Justice Bill being read a third time in the House of Commons to-morrow. I am very anxious indeed to get these Bills printed and circulated, so that your Lordships may have that interval which I know you like to have before the Second Reading takes place. Although that is not so necessary, as we have already said in conversation across the floor, in the case of the Criminal Justice Bill, it is very necessary in the case of the Tithe Bill; and if your Lordships would consent to a formal sitting on Friday—I should be very reluctant on such a day to have more than a formal sitting, but I think that would be quite recognised as necessary in the interests of public business—the two Bills could be read a first time on Friday. Then I would ask your Lordships to take the Second Reading of the Criminal Justice Bill on Tuesday in next week and of the Tithe Bill on the Thursday in next week. If that would suit your Lordships, the arrangement would give a fair interval, after the Tithe Bill was printed and circulated, before it had to be discussed. As I have already said, I have received an intimation from your Lordships generally that in the case of the Criminal Justice Bill a short interval would not be objected to, because the Bill is a very old friend and really comes to us in almost the same shape as that in which it left us on the last occasion.