§ Brought from the Commons, endorsed with the certificate from the Speaker that it is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act, 1911.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read lª—[The Earl of Plymouth.]
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, with reference to this Bill, I am in the usual position of making an appeal to your Lordships as to the time which it ought to take in going through its various stages. It appears that there is a very important public interest to be served in getting this Bill through by, I think it is, November 29. In those circumstances I was going to suggest to your Lordships that the Second Reading might be taken as early as Thursday, the day after tomorrow. It is not absolutely and entirely a Money Bill, but technically it is certified as a Money Bill.
§ LORD PARMOORMy Lords, if the noble Marquess thinks it is a matter of importance we will do our best to assist in the passage of the Bill so that it shall pass in the time within which it is desirable it should be passed. But on Thursday there is a Motion of an important character in the name of my noble friend Lord De La Warr.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYLord Buckmaster's Motion you mean.
§ LORD PARMOORI do not think it is Lord Buckmaster's Motion. It is Lord De La Warr's Motion and I hope the noble Marquess will save that. Surely there would be time afterwards. The noble Marquess has kindly done that in some cases and we always tried to do it when we were on that side of the House.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPMy Lords, I only want to be sure that His Majesty's 166 Government realise that we are ready to do all we can to assist in the matter. I have not had an opportunity of consulting my noble friend Lord Buxton, who naturally is particularly interested in these matters because of his connection with them when they were first introduced into another place as a novel feature of our legislation. I am sure, however, that he will do his best to meet the wishes of the noble Marquess opposite. The only point I wish to raise is on the matter of general principle with regard to Bills of this kind. We all agree that we want the Bill to get through by November 29 and there is very unlikely to be discussion either in Committee or on the Third Reading stage. Obviously, as it is a certified Money Bill, it is less likely that there will be discussion. But perhaps on occasions like this, if the noble Marquess would put down a Motion so that we could take the various stages all on one day and give us more time for the Second Reading, it might be more convenient. I do not say that in regard to this particular Bill. I bring it forward as a matter for the noble Marquess to consider in regard to Bills in which the subsequent stages are not really matters of importance—whether it is not better to postpone the Second Reading and then to take all the other stages on one day.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI quite appreciate the point. May I, after what has passed, confer with the noble Earl and the noble and learned Lord and mention the matter again to-morrow and finally fix it then?
§ On Question, Bill read 1ª, and to be printed.