§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, before your Lordships go to the Orders of the Day, I would ask leave to put a Question to the noble and learned Lord the Leader of the House as to whether he can tell us what Bills are likely to be brought before this House during the present sittings. There will be, I suppose, other business besides Bills; notably, there must be some discussion upon the Egyptian Treaty either initiated by His Majesty's Government or by ourselves. That, no doubt, must take place. Beside that I would like to put a question with reference to an Order in Council which I understand the Government are to lay before both Houses of Parliament in respect of the East African Reports; that is to say, the two Reports which have been made in respect of the East African Protectorate. I understand that the object is to lead up to a Joint Committee of both Houses of 431 Parliament. I should like to know when the discussion of that Order in Council is likely to be undertaken by the Government.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (LORD PARMOOR)My Lords, I had better perhaps deal with the last question first. I do not think there is the least chance of the Government initiating a discussion at this stage on the Egyptian Treaty. Their view certainly was, and I think is, that it would be contrary to the public interest to have a discussion at any rate before the Elections have been finally disposed of in Egypt. I do not know, of course, what the noble Marquess's view would be about that; but until the Elections in Egypt have been disposed of certainly we shall not initiate any discussion, because we do not think it would be in accord with the public interest.
On the other question which the noble Marquess asks me, I appreciate that very important questions may arise regarding East Africa; but my noble friend Lord Passfield, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, is not here and I am afraid, therefore, that I cannot answer the noble Marquess's question. I have not heard of any such intention. That does not mean that there is net one; but I will get the information from my noble friend Lord Passfield and we will supply it at the next public meeting of your Lordships' House. I am sorry that I cannot give any further information than that to-day.
With regard to the future, the noble Marquess knows what there is on the Paper. At the present time, so far as I can see, at the beginning of next week the only possible matter that might be put on the Paper for Tuesday would be the concluding stages of the Children (Employment Abroad) Bill. That is likely to be formal. If that is the only matter to be put on the Paper for that day, I would, of course, consider some other day when it could be taken formally at any convenient time. Then, as I think the noble Marquess knows, we have on Wednesday Lord Danesfort's Motion on certain actions of the Irish Free State in reference to a decision of the Privy Council, and on Thursday we have the Motion of the noble Earl, Lord Midleton, on the Army. I am informed that Lord Lamington's Motion, which was 432 on the Paper for that day, regarding our relations with the Imam of Yemen, has been deferred for a week.
As to the future of Bills in this House, I think one or two important questions arise. In the first place, the Civil Procedure Bill, which will be introduced by the Lord Chancellor, which deals with a very important question of the procedure on behalf of the Government in civil proceedings, and which has been very carefully considered, is, I am told, ready to be introduced subject to printing. Everything is ready except printing and the noble and learned Lord, the Lord Chancellor, is willing at the first possible opportunity to ask leave to take the First Reading. That will probably be early next week. Then, as I have already stated, we are hoping that the Road Traffic Bill may be introduced in this House. Again I am told the difficulty is rather with the draftsman and with the printing of the Bill. I hope that next week that also may be introduced into this House. Then there is a very important Bill, the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill, which is now being discussed in another place. I hope it will be here by the third week in November. That, I think, will take up most of your Lordships' time whilst it is under discussion, because it is necessary to pass that Bill into law before the end of November.
I think that is as far as I can go at the present moment in indicating the business that your Lordships will have before you, and I am sure that I shall have the sympathy of the noble Marquess when I say that I am endeavouring that we in this House, who often have time at our disposal, should have before us some of the non-contentious Bills which may nevertheless require a good deal of discussion at the Committee stage. That is a class of Bill with which, I think, we are specially fitted to deal, and in reference to which we are likely to have adequate time. I cannot give the noble Marquess any further information at the present time.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord for what he has been able to say and also for his promise to introduce important measures into your Lordships' House.
§ LORD PARMOORIf I can.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYThat remains with the noble and learned Lord and his colleagues, and I have no doubt he is very influential. I would only add, if I may be allowed to do so, that with regard to the Widows' Pensions Bill I understand that he hopes to get it here in the third week of November with a view of passing it before the end of the month.
§ LORD PARMOORYes.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYThe noble and learned Lord will realise that does not allow us a very great deal of time for a most complicated Bill. I should not like to enter into any engagement with him as to the time which it will take, so far as we are concerned on this side of the House, to deal with it, and I hope he will realise on a very important measure like this that we ought to have ample time. May I also say one word with regard to the Egyptian discussion? I observed that the noble and learned Lord used the phrase that he thought it would be contrary to the public interest to have a discussion upon the Egyptian Treaty at the present moment. That is a very important phrase for him to use, and in the circumstances I cannot enter into any undertaking with reference to it. I am sure he will understand that, but, of course, I take note of the phrase.
§ LORD PARMOORI am very much obliged, and, in answer to the noble Marquess's suggestion, I should like to say that the Widows' Pensions Bill, which undoubtedly requires a good deal of discussion, will be in charge of the noble Lord, Lord Arnold, and will be brought here at the first possible moment. Later the noble Lord, Lord Arnold, may be able to tell us, if it is convenient, what he would desire as to leaving as much time as he possibly can between the First and Second Readings. I should like to have at least a full week if that is possible. I do not know at the present time what is the most convenient way to deal with a Bill in which there is so much detail, but I promise the noble Marquess this, that not only will any suggestion coming from him have full consideration but we shall adopt it if we possibly can do so.