§ LORD STRACHIEMy Lords, it will be within your recollection that a short time ago I raised the question of certain Regulations that were laid upon the Table of your Lordships' House not being available to Peers, because there was only one copy of the Regulations and that was upon the Table. I pointed out then that fourteen days had already elapsed and there were only seven days in which the Regulations could be dealt with before they would come into force, and that in these circumstances there was no proper opportunity for dealing with them. The noble Marquess the Leader of the House informed me that he would look into the question himself and make some statement later on. I therefore desire to ask him now whether he has any statement to make in regard to the matter.
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Lord for mentioning this matter. In accordance with my promise I have taken a great deal of trouble about it. I think it is very important that the right of your Lordships to object to Regulations which have been laid on the Table should be safeguarded. The facts are very much as the noble Lord has stated them. These particular Regulations were only laid in manuscript 288 and there were no copies available to Peers who wanted to have them. That, I think—and your Lordships will think—was not a real compliance with the Statute. I believe it was done by inadvertence. No attention having been called on previous occasions to these Regulations, the practice had slipped into an irregular one, but I am able to assure the House that it shall never occur again. The Department desire me to express their apologies to your Lordships that it has occurred and to say that in future printed copies will be available for Peers the moment the Paper is laid.
There remains to deal with this particular case. There are now printed copies available, but, as the noble Lord has very properly said, the time has largely expired during which these Regulations have to be laid before they become law. In those circumstances I have to consider what can be done. I hope your Lordships will not insist upon the Papers being relaid, because if that occurs, and if the time were to begin to run again, it might be that we should not be able to conclude the business before the Recess and that would throw the whole thing over till the autumn. But I am able to give this assurance to the noble Lord, that if he moves—I hope he will not—that your Lordships should not agree with the Regulations, no technical point will be taken; so far as the Department are concerned they will treat it exactly as if the objection had been taken during the currency of the time. I hope the noble Lord will be satisfied that I have done all in my power to put the matter right.
§ LORD STRACHIEMy Lords, may I say that I have heard with complete satisfaction what has been done in this matter.