HL Deb 16 July 1930 vol 78 cc495-8
LORD PARMOOR

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name upon the Order Paper.

Moved, That Standing Order No. XXI be considered in order to its being suspended until the House adjourn for the Recess, and that until that date Government business have, except with the consent of the Government, precedence over any other Notices and Orders of the Day.—(Lord Parmoor.)

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

My Lords, before that Motion is agreed to, I should like to make clear what I believe to be the intention of the Government in reference to this Order. May I say in the first place that, personally, I have no manner of objection nor do I think have my noble friends who sit around me, to the general principle of the Motion which the noble and learned Lord proposes to make at this period of the Session. It is not unusual and it is not unreasonable. But there is a difficulty which arises in respect to Motions and Orders of the day already on the Paper. I know the Government have reserved to themselves the right in the terms of the Motion to dispense with it where they think fit. All I request from the learned and noble Lord is that he will signify that he will use this power to dispense with the Order in the case of all Notices of Motion and Orders of the Day which stand already on the Paper, and I think he ought to extend it in respect of Bills not merely to the stage down on the Paper but to the subsequent stages. For example, there is a Bill which my noble friend Lord Balfour of Burleigh is engaged in piloting through the House. I do not go into the merits of it one way or another, but as the Bill has reached a certain stage it would be a hardship if he were not allowed to proceed with it.

LORD PARMOOR

My Lords, I thank the noble Marquess for asking me this question, although I thought I had made the matter clear when I stated yesterday that I proposed to move this Motion. The terms are actually taken from a Motion proposed by the late Lord Curzon. There is no doubt that the intention is to preserve the rights of private Motions and Orders and Bills to which the noble Marquess has referred. That is the intention; but of course the further intention is that no other private matter should be brought forward.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

That would extend to the further stages of Bills?

LORD PARMOOR

Oh, yes. We have no desire whatever to interfere with anything on the Paper or with any stage of a Bill on the Paper.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

Thank you.

On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.

LORD PARMOOR

My Lords, there is a statement I should like to make with reference to future business before the House. I mentioned yesterday that we proposed to put down provisionally the Committee stage of the Housing (No. 2) Bill for Monday next. I think that must be maintained if we are to get through our business in time. We are getting very near the end of the Session. I should propose therefore, if it causes no inconvenience, that we meet on Monday at an earlier time than usual, say half past two. I am told there is no judicial business. I should hope that if we met at that time we should be able to get through the Committee stage before a late hour on that day.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

My Lords, I have had the opportunity of considering since yesterday the question as to whether Monday would be a day suitable to noble Lords who sit around me for that stage, and in the very difficult circumstances at the moment I shall not persist in making any objection to taking Monday for the purpose. I think, however, the noble and learned Lord will find half past two a little early to meet. After all, we have to have luncheon.

EARL BEAUCHAMP

My Lords, if I may be allowed to say so I quite agree with what has been said by the noble Marquess. I am quite sure we are all very anxious to facilitate the work of His Majesty's Government and from what I have heard I do not think, though the Bill is of great importance, that there are likely to be a great number of Amendments to it. It seems to me that to meet at half past two is unnecessary. If we met at the usual hour it would be more to the general convenience. I think that altering the hour at which your Lordships meet is somewhat inconvenient unless it is done with full notice and on really important occasions. Therefore I hope the learned and noble Lord the Lord President of the Council will see his way to consent to our meeting at the usual hour, and I do not think we shall have any difficulty in adjourning before his soup gets cold.

LORD PARMOOR

I should be very loth to interfere with the luncheon requirements either of the noble Marquess or the noble Earl.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

It is the dinner of the noble Earl. It is my lunch.

LORD PARMOOR

Perhaps it would meet the general convenience if I said, instead of half past two, half past three so that we can get through our work early?

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

I believe a quarter to four would meet the general convenience.

LORD PARMOOR

Then we will sit at a quarter to four on Monday next.