§ LORD PARMOORMy Lords, before public business begins I should like to ask the noble Marquess the Leader of the House a question with regard to the business for to-morrow. I understand that the Second Reading of the Local Government Bill, which is to be considered first to-day, will also be first on the Paper to-morrow. Unless there is some special arrangement Wednesday is not a day for judicial business, and I should like to know whether the noble Marquess would not think it advisable to meet a little earlier in order to get to a Division within a reasonable time.
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, it certainly is the desire of the Government and, I understand, it is the desire of your Lordships' House, that if the debate on the Second Reading of this Bill is not completed this evening it should be continued to-morrow. That was the understanding, I think, in all quarters of the House. It was understood, I thought, that the Government would have the co-operation in that arrangement of Peers who were good enough to place, at any rate in this respect, confidence in the Government. Unfortunately, I find that a Bill has been placed on the Order Paper for to-morrow which might interfere with the Local Government Bill being taken as the first Order. It stands in the name of a very distinguished member of your Lordships' House, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Buck-master. I cannot help hoping that the arrangement which was come to the other day will still obtain and that my noble and learned friend will not persist in bringing his Bill forward at a time when, by the general consent of the House, your Lordships were to be engaged upon this very important Government measure. I have no control over the business of the House beyond that sort of appeal, unless, 1047 of course, the House should be good enough to give me authority in these matters. I am hoping that before the end of this sitting I may hear from the noble and learned Lord, or from somebody who can speak on his behalf, that he will not persist. If not, I should hardly like to suggest what would be the right course to take. I understand that the noble and learned Lord the Leader of the Opposition also wants to know whether we could meet earlier to-morrow.
§ LORD PARMOORIf we are going to have a Division to-morrow, as I certainly hope we shall have, we might meet a little earlier seeing that there is no judicial business, in order to have the Division at a reasonable time. That is the only reason I made the suggestion.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYIn the course of a short time, I think, I shall be fully in possession of the list of the noble Lords who desire to take part in this debate. Then I shall be in a position to judge, and I will confer with noble Lords who have influence in the House and settle whether an earlier sitting should take place.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPMy Lords, I think I may say, as my noble and learned friend Lord Buckmaster is not present, that when he put down the Bill for to-morrow he did so not understanding the arrangement which had been come to. He does not attend as often as I wish he would attend and therefore he did not know exactly what the arrangement was. I should have no objection if the noble Marquess were to put down at the end of our sitting to-day, a Motion that this Bill is to take precedence of all other business in the House to-morrow. That is according to the agreement we came to. With regard to the suggestion to meet earlier to-morrow, perhaps we might discuss that later when we see whether it is likely the debate will last a long time. My own view is that at short notice it is very inconvenient for Peers to have an early meeting of the House. I think if we have an early meeting there ought to be notice for two or three days so that Peers may know what is to take place. Unless there is real pressure on our time and we are unable to finish all the speeches, I think we ought to keep 1048 to the usual hour of meeting. In the meanwhile I hope we shall not adjourn too early to-night.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI am very much obliged to the noble Earl.