RESERVOIRS (SAFETY PROVISIONS) BILL [H.L.] (Hansard, 31 July 1930)

§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AIR (LORD THOMSON)
My Lords, I beg to move that the Commons Amendments to this Bill be now considered.

§ EARL PEEL
My Lords, I wish to say a word on this. I had not heard until just now that the Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Bill was coming up, and I should like to ask first, where are these Amendments which the noble Lord has moved should now be considered? There is no Paper or document dealing with them.

§ LORD THOMSON
If the noble Earl will hear me I will explain.

§ EARL PEEL
The only copy I have seen is one containing a number of unintelligible manuscript Amendments inscribed in the Bill.

§ LORD THOMSON
If the noble Earl will allow me to explain I shall be delighted to do so. I feel the House has not been too well treated in this matter, but as the Bill only got through the Report stage at 10.30 last night in another place it was rather difficult to get the printing done. The insertions in the Bill which the noble Earl now has in his hand were prepared by the Department, and I had a copy especially done for the noble Marquess the Leader of the Opposition as I thought it would help him. I am sorry it is 1193 useless, but it is the best we could do, and it is exactly the same as I have myself.

§ EARL PEEL
My Lords, I am sorry that the noble Marquess the Leader of the Opposition is not here. I only had a word with him just now outside, and he said it is really an outrage asking your Lordships to take this Bill now with the Amendments. I have only just been handed this document, which I have not had an opportunity of reading, without any sort of notice, and I must really ask the noble Lord to postpone the consideration of these Amendments till tomorrow in order to have an opportunity, even for a quarter of an hour, to consider them.

§ LORD THOMSON
My Lords, I have no objection to the consideration being postponed till to-morrow, but in justice to myself I think the noble Earl, Lord Onslow, will admit that I gave that amended copy of the Bill to him at least one hour ago.

THE EARL OF ONSLOW
The noble Lord did give me a copy, and I gave it to the noble Marquess, and now he has given it to the noble Earl.

§ EARL PEEL
My Lords, at the moment I am both vicariously and personally indignant at the treatment which is meted out to me.

§ LORD THOMSON
My Lords, in the circumstances I am pleased to accept the noble Earl's request, but my noble Leader thinks we shall have to meet a little earlier if consideration is put off until to-morrow. I think if we take them now we can get through in five minutes. I think I can explain to your Lordships' satisfaction that there is not a single one of the Amendments but goes to meet the views expressed by your Lordships during our debates. They would not suit my own Party half so much as the Party of noble Lords opposite. However, if it is the desire to postpone consideration till to-morrow, I agree.

§ EARL PEEL
My Lords, I have no doubt the noble Lord will explain them most expeditiously in five minutes, but it does not follow that I shall be able to understand the explanation. I should like to have an opportunity of considering them; but if it is only a question of five minutes 1194 I do not think that getting up five minutes earlier to-morrow will be the smallest strain upon the Government.

§ Loan PARMOOR
My Lords, I understand the view of the noble Earl opposite. We shall have one or two matters to consider to-morrow, and I think we should meet at eleven o'clock.