§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEMy Lords, before we proceed with to-day's business may I be allowed to ask the noble and learned Viscount the Leader of the House whether he would be good enough to give us some idea of the work to be got through before the end of this Session?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)My Lords, I am glad to answer the noble Lord's question. To-morrow I propose to ask the House to have a purely formal meeting at four o'clock to receive from another place the Irish Free State (Special Duties) Bill, which is expected to pass there some time to-morrow. I thought we might take the same opportunity of giving a Third Reading to the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Bill, which I do not think any of your Lordships would desire to debate on Third Reading. As the Amendments will have to go to another place it would be a great convenience if we could get that disposed of.
650 I am afraid that on Monday I shall have to put down a Motion to suspend Standing Orders to pass the Irish Free State (Special Duties) Bill through all its stages. Your Lordships will realise that it is a matter of urgency. It will, of course, be a certified Bill so, presumably, there will be no Committee or Report stage. I thought also that it would be well on the same occasion to take the Report and Third Reading of the Sunday Entertainments Bill. Otherwise it will be almost impossible to get our Amendments discussed in another place. Then there will be the Public Works Loans Bill and the Isle of Man (Customs) (No. 2) Bill—both certified Bills—which are down for Second Reading to-day. I thought we might also take the Third Reading of those Bills.
On Tuesday there will be the Commons agreement or disagreement with your Lordships' Amendments to the Town and Country Planning Bill, the Commons agreement or disagreement with Amendments to the Sunday Entertainments Bill and possibly—it depends on what happens to-day—any discussion which may be necessitated by disagreement between the two Houses with regard to the Children and Young Persons Bill. There is also a Motion by Lord Lovat in regard to piers in the Highland counties. If all goes well we propose on Wednesday to ask the House to adjourn till October 27, with what is now becoming the usual power for the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Commons to summon us at short notice if emergency should arise.
§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEThere is one other point I should like to put to the noble and learned Viscount. I presume that on Monday we shall sit at three o'clock?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMI had not intended to propose that, but if the noble Lord thinks there will be any prolonged discussion we could do so. I had rather anticipated that there would be no very long debate on the Second Reading of the Irish Free State (Special Duties) Bill and I thought that a quarter past four would be soon enough. If the noble Lord or any other member of your Lordships' House thinks that will not give satisfaction I shall be glad to meet the convenience of the House.
§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEI do not want to press the point at all. I only thought that possibly on the Irish Duties Bill there might be a certain number of your Lordships who would wish to speak. It has become rather convenient to meet at an earlier hour.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMPerhaps the noble Lord will allow me to make inquiry through the usual channels and decide that in consultation with other members of your Lordships' House before we adjourn this evening.