§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I rise to ask two questions of His Majesty's Government. In the first place I ask the noble and learned Lord the Leader of the House whether he can indicate any arrangement as to the business of the House. I would also like to take this opportunity of asking the Under-Secretary of State for India. (Earl Russell) how soon he thinks we may be able to have in our hands copies of the Viceroy's statement made in India this morning.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (LORD PARMOOR)My Lords, in reply to the question the noble Marquess has asked me, though the Housing (No. 2) Bill has not yet been formally read a first time in this House, it will be so read shortly. It is generally referred to as a Bill dealing with slums and slum clearance. I propose that we should take the Second Reading of that Bill on Tuesday. That will give nearly a full week's interval. We are getting on to a late time of the Session and are anxious to get through our business by the end of July. The Bill has been printed and discussed for some time, and I think if we take it on Tuesday that will give ample time. There is one other matter to which the noble Marquess did, not refer that I would like to say a word about, and that is the Coal Mines Bill when it comes back to us from another place. I thought at first that we might take that on Monday, but I find that is not convenient. If it would be convenient, we might put that down also for Tuesday. Both are important matters 330 which may, of course, lead to subsequent discussion and we ought to get on with them.
THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (EARL RUSSELL)My Lords, with regard to the question the noble Marquess put to me, the India Office have had copies of the address by the Viceroy to the Indian Legislature printed, and your Lordships will find them available in the Library of this House.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I am very much obliged to the noble Earl for his reply. With regard to business, as the noble and learned Lord is aware, it was only when he spoke just now that I heard for the first time he proposed to take the two very important matters to which he referred on the same day. I would venture to say to him very respectfully that so far as the Housing Bill is concerned, I do not think it would be at all an unreasonable arrangement that the Second Reading of that should be taken on Tuesday, but I rather deprecate that after perhaps a long and difficult discussion upon the Housing Bill we should proceed to discuss what may perhaps be a rather difficult matter in reference to the Coal Mines Bill. I do not know in what form it will return to us, and if the noble and learned Lord will allow me perhaps he would let me mention the matter a little later in the evening or to-morrow, and we could discuss whether we would be prepared to take the Coal Mines Bill so early as next Tuesday.
§ LORD PARMOORWe cannot, of course, at the present moment put anything down about the Coal Mines Bill, as it is not in this House, but it is convenient that the House should have warning as early as possible of what the course of business is likely to be. I think it would be better to let that matter stand over till to-morrow.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYAs regards the Coal Mines Bill?
§ LORD PARMOORYes.