§ Order of the Day read for the consideration of Commons Amendments and Commons Reasons for disagreeing to certain of the Lords Amendments.
§ VISCOUNT PEELMy Lords, I move that these Amendments and Reasons be now considered. The House of Commons 1681 have accepted thirty-eight of the Amendments that your Lordships made in the Electricity Bill; they have made Amendments to three of your Amendments; and they have declined to accede to four. On the whole I think, therefore, that the bulk of your Lordships' Amendments have been accepted, and I do not propose myself to quarrel with any of the changes made in another place. I only express my regret on one. With regard to the financial clause, Clause 27, some of your Lordships were very anxious that a strengthening phrase should be inserted as regards the guarantee of £33,500,000 to be given by the Treasury. They therefore inserted the words "and subject to such conditions." I think they are very sensible words, and could do no possible harm, but for some reason they were claimed to be a breach of privilege. Another place stood quite stiffly on its privilege, although I think it might well have accepted the suggestion made by your Lordships. Of course I could not ask your Lordships, on the grounds I have mentioned, to disagree with the Commons. I move that the Commons Amendments and Reasons be now considered.
§ Moved, That the Commons Amendments and Reasons be now considered.—(Viscount Peel.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.