§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, perhaps you would allow me to ask the noble and learned Lord the Leader of the House a question about business. I understand that it is the intention of the Government to ask your Lordships to adjourn to-morrow for the Whitsuntide Recess. I would like to ask the further question When the noble and learned Lord expects us to reassemble, and, lastly, on what day he proposes to take the decisions of the House of Commons upon the Lords Amendments to the Coal Mines Bill.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (LORD PARMOOR)My Lords, I propose that we should adjourn tomorrow. We shall not be able to meet in the morning because the Cabinet meets on Wednesday, but I am told that there is no reason why we should not meet at three o'clock. There will be very little business I think beyond the adjournment. There is one other matter and also there will be a Royal Commission. I say three o'clock for the time of meeting in order that those noble Lords who are going away may have an opportunity of getting away as early as possible. I hope that will be to the general convenience. We return on Tuesday, June 17, that is the Tuesday after Whitsun week. My own view was that we should that day take the consideration of the Commons Amendments to the Lords Amendments to the Coal Mines Bill, but, of course, if the noble Marquess has any reason for thinking that that would not be convenient, I should give great weight to his opinion. In all these matters, I desire and we desire to meet the general convenience of your Lordships' House. If it is thought that for the general convenience some other date would be preferable, it is not for me to object to that, but my own view would be to take the next stage of the Coal Mines Bill on Tuesday, June 17.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble and learned Lord for having given us the in- 1322 formation he has given. So far as my knowledge goes, there is no reason why the suggestion he has made with regard to the adjournment to-morrow should not be carried through. Neither would I suggest to your Lordships that June 17 is an undue day upon which to ask us to reassemble after the Whitsuntide Recess. I am afraid, however, that June 17, which the noble and learned Lord suggested, will not be at all a convenient day for us to consider the Commons Amendments to the Lords Amendments on the Coal Mines Bill. The Bill is of very great importance and, judging from a report which I read this morning of a speech by the President of the Board of Trade, it is likely that questions of great difficulty and importance will be raised on the further stages of that Bill. I would suggest to the noble and learned Lord that June 24 would be a better day. That would give a week after the reassembling of your Lordships' House.
§ LORD PARMOORMy Lords, I regret to hear the views of the noble Marquess as to the day on Which the consideration of the Commons Amendments to the Lords Amendments on the Coal Mines Bill should be taken, but if he tells me that after consultation with those with whom he does consult, and after ascertaining the feeling of the House on his side, he thinks that June 24 is the right day, I am very unwilling to take any objection to the day which he tells me in his view will suit the general convenience of the House. I do not know Whether the noble Earl, Lord Beauchamp, has any views on the subject.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPMy Lords, as the noble and learned Lord is good enough to consult me, may I say it is entirely a matter of indifference to me? I am prepared to come any day.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI am sure that after what the noble Earl has said it may be taken that it would be for the general convenience of the great number of your Lordships that the Bill should not be taken earlier than Tuesday, June 24.
§ LORD PARMOORPerhaps, as I am not myself immediately concerned with the Bill, I may ask the noble and learned Lord, the Lord Chancellor, to tell your Lordships whether, from his point of 1323 view, June 24 will not be too late. If that is his view, I will assent to the noble Marquess's suggestion.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD SANKEY)My Lords, may I say that June 24 will suit me?
§ LORD BANBURY OF SOUTHAMMy Lords, may I remind the noble and learned Lord who leads the House that when, about a fortnight ago, I at his request postponed my Question, he chose the day on which I should put it down again, and he promised me to tell the Clerks at the Table that no Government business should be put in front of that Question? I see that Government business has been put in front of it. Of course, I do not for a moment suggest that any blame attaches to the Clerks at the Table, who have to take instructions from the Government. I presume a mistake has arisen, but I would point out to the noble and learned Lord that bargains made in this House should be observed. It is no use making bargains and agreements if afterwards a bargain or an agreement is broken.
§ LORD PARMOORMy Lords, I entirely agree with the noble Lord and no one regrets more than I do that anything has been put in front of his Question. He is perfectly correct. I told him that if he postponed his Motion to this date it would come first. I can only say that I am not responsible, and that I regret that any Bill has been put down before it. I thought I had made arrangements that the day should be left quite free. I do not want to say more, but I am told that the Government business which has been put down will not take long. I apologise quite sincerely to the noble Lord because the promise I made him has not been kept, but I assure him it has not been my fault.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (EARL DE LA WARR)My Lords, I can only say with regard to the Land Drainage Bill, that I put it down without being aware of the understanding to which the noble Lord has referred. I put it down to suit the convenience of your Lordships' House. I am quite in the hands of your Lordships, but I understood that it would suit the convenience of the House, owing to some engagements on the part of some of your Lordships for 1324 to-morrow, that we should take the Bill to-day. I am entirely in your Lordships' hands.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I can only say, as I was one of the few members of your Lordships' House who were present at the conclusion of the proceedings yesterday, that it was the act of the Under-Secretary of State for War, acting of course on his own responsibility, to put the Bill down, and nobody else was responsible except the noble Earl. I did suggest to him that it was not a very wise course, but he took a different view. No doubt, having great experience, he thought that it was wiser to act in a different way. I left it in his hands.