§ VISCOUNT HALDANEMy Lords, I rise to ask whether the noble Marquess who leads the House can, give us any information as to when he proposes that the House should adjourn for the Easter Recess and on what date he proposes that the House should resume its sittings.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, your Lordships are fully entitled to this information. I think it will be for the convenience of your Lordships if 551 the House were to adjourn on March 29 and reassemble on April 19. Of course, if between now and the 29th any strong reasons should emerge why our holiday should be a little curtailed, I am sure your Lordships will allow me to come to you again and explain the circumstances. But, as at present advised, that appears to me to be a reasonable holiday and one which I think should meet your convenience. May I take this opportunity of saying that the Rating and Valuation Bill, which is an important Bill, stands for Second Reading now on the 27th of this month? It would be impossible, of course, to complete its stages before the Recess, and I thought that your Lordships might be willing to leave over the Committee stage to the first day after the Recess, that is April 19.
Besides that Bill, there is a small, almost formal Bill, the Rating (Scotland) Amendment Bill. Perhaps your Lordships will allow me to say one word upon that. Its purpose really is to remedy an error in drafting in the main Bill which was passed in 1926. It will be a certain convenience to get this Bill through as soon as possible, and in order to do that it would be necessary—it will not reach your Lordships until Tuesday next—to get through all the stages on Tuesday and Wednesday. If your Lordships will be good enough at your convenience to look at the measure you will see what a very formal and brief Bill it is. But I desire, if I may use such language to your Lordships, to put no constraint upon your Lordships' House. If your Lordships' House is not willing to take all the stages in those two days I shall not resist the House or any influential members of the House who take that view. At the same time, if it is your Lordships' view that it is merely putting right an error of drafting, and is very little more than a formal matter, though a matter of importance, it would be convenient if the Bill were passed as quickly as possible. I leave the matter in your Lordships' hands. The Bill will be here on Tuesday, and if between now and that day I hear no objections I shall move the suspension of the Standing Orders in order to proceed with it as I have suggested.