§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name. Your Lordships are perhaps aware already that we have made arrangements not to interfere with the Motion of the noble Lord, Lord Olivier, which stands on the Paper for Wednesday and will not lose its precedence to Government business.
§ Moved, That on this day and for the remainder of the Session, Standing Order XXI be suspended, and Government business have precedence ever other Notices and Orders of the day unless the Government agree to the contrary.—(The Marquess of Salisbury.)
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPMy Lords, I do not want to offer any opposition to the Motion. As the noble Marquess knows, I am always ready to fall in with his desires, but I think that this is a very suitable opportunity for sketching to the House the plans of the Government with regard to the remainder of the Session. Perhaps he can tell us when it is expected to take in this House the Second Reading and other stages of the Unemployment Insurance Bill, and also the day on which it is hoped to adjourn. If he can do that I am sure we shall be grateful to him.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI wish, all the more because of the noble Earl's great consideration for the wishes of the Government in matters of business, that he had given me notice that he was going to ask me this question to-day. I have no good information with regard to the Unemployment Insurance Bill. I do not know until I have made inquiries at the other end of the passage what position it does occupy, but I will take care to inform myself so as to give all the information in my power to-morrow. With regard to other business, I think I have already announced to your Lordships that we intend 462 to take the Committee stage of the Landlord and Tenant Bill, if allowed to do so, on Thursday, to sit after dinner if necessary on that night, and, if that is insufficient to get the Bill through Committee, then to sit on Friday. If it appears from the Amendment Paper that that will be necessary, then, of course, due notice will be given. With regard to the holidays, I am afraid I have very little hope of rising until a couple or three days before Christmas, but I will give all the information, in my power to-morrow.
§ EARL BUXTONMay I make this observation with regard to the Unemployment Insurance Bill? I understand that the noble Marquees does not yet know when it is likely to come up to this House, but it is clear that it cannot come up this week, and as the first three days of next week are occupied by the Resolution on the Prayer Book Measure it is clear that it cannot be taken before the Thursday. It is the most important Bill of this Session, so far as the Government are concerned, and therefore we ought to have plenty of notice before the Second Reading, and plenty of time for the Committee stage, because the Amendments are sure to be numerous and of great importance, although not of an obstructive character. I hope that the noble Marquess will bear that in mind when this very important Bill comes to this House.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I promise at once that when the Bill is put down it shall be put down as the first Order, and I will give the noble Earl as full information as I can to-morrow. As he knows, I am not now in a position to give definite information.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPIf I may I will put a Question to-morrow.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.