§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I would venture to ask the noble and learned Lord the Leader of the House whether he can give your Lordships any information as to the course of public business during the next few days or weeks, or whatever period he chooses to select.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (LORD) PARMOOR)My Lords, I think I can give the noble Marquess and the House the information which he would desire, although I cannot give him information extending over any long period. The noble Marquess knows that to-day we are taking the Committee stage of the Unemployment Insurance Bill. He will know better than I do, but it seemed to us that we should probably get through the Committee stage of that Bill to-day. But, in the event of our not doing so, I should to-morrow move 2 the Motion which stands on the Paper in my name, in order that we might go on continuously with that Bill until the Committee stage is finished. It is very desirable, I am told, that that Bill should be dealt with as quickly as may be convenient to this House, because of certain financial arrangements. If the Committee stage is finished to-day I do not think there would be any objection to taking the Report stage on Thursday, and then we could take the Third Reading early next week.
So far as the Road Traffic Bill is concerned, there are two things I should like to mention. One is that we do not intend to raise again in this House the question of Part V, on which we discussed the question of what is called municipal trading; but I want to make it clear that it will be raised in another place. I think it would be contrary to the traditions of your Lordships' House, when a matter has been fully discussed, to raise the same question again here. Therefore we do not propose to raise it again in this House. I have read through all the Amendments to the Road Traffic Bill that are on the Paper. Several of them, undoubtedly, raise questions which have been thoroughly discussed already; a good many, I think, in the name of the noble Earl, Lord Howe, who, of course, will exercise his own discretion in such a matter; but I think the Report stage of the Road Traffic Bill ought to be finished by a reasonable time on Thursday, if we can finish the Unemployment Insurance Bill 3 Committee stage to-day. If we could finish it within that time, I should not want to make any Motion to your Lordships for extended opportunities.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYDid the noble and learned Lord say that the Road Traffic Bill was to be taken tomorrow or on Thursday?
§ LORD PARMOORTo-morrow, and if the Committee stage of the Unemployment Insurance Bill is finished to-day, it will be the first order to-morrow. The noble Viscount, Lord Templetown, on the suggestion I made to him, very kindly put his Question about Palestine off for another week, because we desire to finish these Bills as soon as possible. I acknowledge at once his great courtesy in doing that.
§ THE MARQUESS or SALISBURYIn that case, when would the noble and learned Lord take the Road Traffic Bill?
§ LORD PARMOORTo-morrow.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYBut supposing to-morrow is not available?
§ LORD PARMOORWe should go straight on. In those circumstances, it might be necessary to ask your Lordships to sit late on Thursday or to meet on Friday; but I do not want to make suggestions of that kind prematurely. I hope we shall manage without doing that. The next matter which will come before your Lordships is, I think, the Railway Rating Reform Bill. That is a matter upon which a very large number of members of your Lordships' House have considerable knowledge and are authorities. Beyond that, I can make no further statement. The Bill is not quite ready for introduction. I hope it will be ready very soon, and when it is ready it will be introduced in the first instance in your Lordships' House. I have tried to do what I can to be of assistance to your Lordships in furthering business. I think there is no doubt that the fact that the Bills we have had under discussion were first introduced here will be of great advantage and assistance to the House of Commons, where undoubtedly business is much congested and there is considerable pressure. I cannot add to this statement at the moment.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYWith the permission of your Lordships, I would 4 only say as regards the Road Traffic Bill that I have no reason to question the propriety of taking that Bill to-morrow if to-morrow is available or on Thursday if Thursday is available; but I hope that the noble and learned Lord will not suggest taking the Third Reading stage of that Bill too soon after the Report stage.
§ LORD PARMOORHear, hear !
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYAs he knows, the Bill is an exceedingly complicated one and it is really very proper that it should be looked through very carefully in order that Amendments, if necessary, should be put in on the Third Reading. That can only be done if a little time is allowed.
§ LORD PARMOORI certainly agree with the noble Marquess. I think it is one of the merits of having a Bill of that kind introduced into this House that it can be thoroughly considered not only in principle but in detail. I think that the Bill has been very thoroughly considered, and if after the Report stage any further day or two are wanted I shall certainly agree if the noble Marquess expresses such a desire.