§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, with reference to the Bill which your Lordships have just read a first time and to the Committee stage of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, which I hope your Lordships will read a second time to-day, I propose, with your Lordships' consent, to ask the House to sit on Monday for the next stages of those Bills—that is, the Committee stage of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill and the Second Reading of the Public Works Loans Bill. I hope your Lordships will consent to that course.
§ LORD PARMOORMy Lords, might I ask the noble Marquess whether that will be the only business that we are to sit for on Monday? There is a question which will arise, though I do not think it will take any time, on the Committee stage of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, to which I propose to call attention. Is it necessary to have a special meeting on Monday with only those two matters? Of course, we would agree to whatever is convenient to the noble Marquess.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYAs your Lordships are aware, next week is rather full. I do not mean to say that I could not arrange otherwise; but there are reasons which I am quite willing to communicate to the noble and learned Lord if he likes privately why it would be convenient to have a sitting on Monday. If there were any very strong objection of course I would not press it.
§ LORD PARMOORIt is quite sufficient so far as we are concerned for the noble Marquess to have made that statement.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPMy Lords, has the noble Marquess considered the possibility of Thursday for the Committee stage of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill? There is very little down, I think, on Thursday. If that was more convenient I do not think the noble Marquess would find any objection.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYAm I to gather from the observations of the noble Earl that he wishes to take part in the discussion of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill on the Committee stage?
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPWhat I do not want to do is to be brought to London on that day.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYWe hardly ever can dispense with the noble Earl, but perhaps on that day it might be managed. May I put it in this way—if the noble Earl will satisfy me in private there are strong reasons for not sitting on Monday I will give way, but as at present advised I take it your Lordships will sit on Monday?