BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 11 December 1931)

§ THE EARL OF LUCAN
My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend the Leader of the House, I beg to move the Resolution standing in his name with reference to the adjournment of the House.

§ LORD BUCKMASTER
My Lords, this Resolution deals with the business of the House, and to its actual form no objection will be taken, but I think it is not an inconvenient moment to call your Lordships' attention to an interference with the Judicial Business of the House which has caused no small inconvenience to everybody engaged in assisting in that part of your Lordships' duties. During the last three days the judicial work of the House has been suddenly and vio- 508 lently interrupted without any communication being made in advance to the noble Lord who had the honour of presiding over its deliberations. That that was not due to any lack of courtesy on the part of the noble Viscount the Leader of the House is a thing which we all know. It was due to some oversight and inadvertence, but I do think it is a matter which needs some consideration. It might have been possible for us to come to some arrangement which would have prevented the very serious trouble which I think has arisen because of this conduct.
It is not merely the interference with the affairs of their Lordships themselves. That makes but little difference, though it may make some to those who are sitting administering the law, but it makes a very grievous difference to counsel who plead at your Bar and who do not know how they are to make their engagements, and still more grave trouble to those people whose interest above all others we ought to consider—namely, the suitors who come here and ask for your Lordships' protection. In the particular cases to which I refer it so happens that we have been trying cases from Scotland, two of them pauper cases, and in both those cases counsel have come down from Scotland, at their own cost and expense, to plead the cases of these poor people, and in no circumstance whatever can their expenses be recompensed. It may well be that this further interference may cause counsel to have to be here over the Saturday and Sunday, and in no circumstances can they be reimbursed their expenses. This might have been avoided by a little thought and consideration and I only mention it in the presence of the noble Earl in order that care may be taken to avoid such inconvenience in the future.

§ LORD MARLEY
My Lords, perhaps I may be allowed to say that we on these Benches have protested again and again against this emergency pressure of business, and the apparent unwillingness of the House to sit after dinner in any circumstances whatever. I cannot think it if reasonable to take that attitude, especially in the circumstances of which the noble and learned Lord has just spoken.

§ THE EARL OF LUCAN
My Lords, in reply to the noble and learned Lord I can only express my great regret that the House has been put to this inconvenience, and I can assure him that it is from no lack of courtesy, as he has him-self admitted, on the part of the Leader of the House. At the present moment I am not in a position to say anything more, but I can only assure him that I will report his objections to the Leader of the House, who I am quite sure will give him all satisfaction.

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD SANKEY)
My Lords, perhaps I may be allowed to express my regret that any inconvenience should have been caused not only to my learned colleagues who sit in Judicial Business but more especially, as Lord Buckmaster has pointed out, to learned counsel who practise in this tribunal and to suitors. I am very glad attention has been drawn to this matter and I can assure noble Lords that I will take care that representations are made to the proper authority.