HL Deb 24 July 1929 vol 75 cc225-6

Order of the Day read for the House to be put into Committee on recommitment of the Bill.

Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(Lord Arnold.)

LORD JESSEL

My Lords, before the House resolves itself into Committee may I say that, like my noble friend Lord Banbury of Southam, I have a grievance. Last Session, when the Leeds Provisional Order Bill was before the House, I pointed out to your Lordships that no names were put on the Paper after these Provisional Order Rills, and that it was impossible to tell what they referred to. At the beginning of this Session I noticed that names were put after Rills on the Order Paper indicating what they were about—Bradford, Leeds, or any other town. I do not know what this Bill relates to, what town it refers to, or anything of the kind. A promise was made last Session that the matter should be looked into. It is very trying, especially if there is something in a particular Bill about which there may he some grievance. I may point out that the Leeds Provisional Order Bill, as to which I had considerable difficulty in finding out what it dealt with, was afterwards sent to a Committee of your Lordships' House. It was found that it was not a fit Bill for a Provisional Order, and it was ordered that it should be dealt with as a Bill in the ordinary way. I would ask His Majesty's Government whether they cannot arrange to have the names printed after Provisional Order Bills to show what they refer to. It would greatly help business and would help those who are interested. I hope the Government will give a favourable reply.

THE PAYMASTER-GENERAL (LORD ARNOLD)

My Lords, I am glad to be able to remedy the grievance of my noble friend, more particularly as I think his grievance is well founded. He was good enough to inform me two or three minutes ago that he intended to raise this point. Since then I have made such inquiries as I could. In the brief time at my disposal I have not been able to ascertain precisely what has happened, but I may say that in future, so far as the Government are concerned, the names of these Provisional Orders will be put on the Paper as requested by the noble Lord. I hope that will satisfy him, and unless there is some misadventure the name of each Provisional Order will so appear.

LORD JESSEL

My Lords, on behalf of myself and of my friends who are associated with me in raising this question I beg to thank the Government for this graceful concession.

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee, accordingly: Amendments proposed by the Select Committee made.

House resumed.

Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Amendments reported: Bill read 3a, and passed, and returned to the Commons.