§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, I do not know whether, before we commence business to-day, the noble and learned Lord the Leader of the House can give us any information as to the course of business in the immediate future?
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (LORD PARMOOR)My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Viscount for asking me that question. There is a little difficulty in the immediate future which, I think, we can solve conveniently. I propose—I have consulted the Lord Chancellor as regards not interfering with judicial business, which we never do—that on Tuesday we shall meet at a quarter to four, when the first place will be taken by the last stage of the Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Conventions) Bill. Then I understand it may be that by that time—I cannot say more than this—the Mines Bill will have been passed by another place and brought up here. The position under the Act passed by the late Government is that unless this Bill is passed, the 7½-hours Mines Act comes to an end on July 7; but if it is possible to pass that Bill through all its stages—it would be an arrangement, of course—on Tuesday, there would be only a short period of illegality in any event because the Royal Assent could be given on Wednesday, and thereafter everything would be in order. We should only have to do that in the event of the Mines Bill coming up. If it does not come up, of course that contingency does not arise. I want to make it quite clear that if it does arrive after dealing with the first matter, the Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Conventions) Bill, we shall have to take the Mines Bill through all its stages on Tuesday. For that purpose we shall have to suspend Standing Orders Nos. XXI and XXXIX.
§ EARL BUXTONMy Lords, may I ask the Leader of the House a question in regard to the Unemployment Insurance Bill which is put down as the last Order to-day? I presume he does not propose to take it to-day, as there would be no opportunity to discuss it.
§ LORD PARMOORI would ask my noble friend Lord Marley, who is in charge of that Bill, to answer the question.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD MARLEY)My Lords, in reply to the noble Earl, the Unemployment Insurance (No. 4) Bill is more or less formal, and the discussion on the whole question of unemployment insurance can take place on the Unemployment Insurance (No. 3) Bill, which is colloquially known as the Anomalies Bill. It will be before your Lordships' House a little later on.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, I only desire to say that I am quite sure if an arrangement is reached on the Mines Bill, which represents an agreed arrangement, when the Bill is brought before your Lordships' House we shall all, whatever part of the House we sit in, be only too anxious to do everything we can to facilitate its immediate passage into law. I hope very heartily that the Government will be successful in their efforts to reach such an arrangement.
§ LORD PARMOORI am very much obliged to the noble Viscount for what he has said.