§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEMy Lords, before the House adjourns may I ask the Leader of the House if he can tell us the arrangements for business next week, and also on what day the House will rise for the Whitsuntide Recess, and how long the Recess will last?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)My Lords, I propose to ask you to take the Third Reading of the Wheat Bill on Tuesday next, because by that means it is hoped that in another place they will be able to consider our Amendments, and I hope the Bill may receive the Royal Assent before the Whitsuntide adjournment. Then on the same day, Tuesday, there is the Committee stage of the Patents and Designs Bill, and there is also an important Motion by the noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby, on the question of disarmament. On Wednesday there is a Motion in the name of my noble friend Lord Astor, and in addition I am asking the House to take the Second Reading of the Marriage (Naval, Military and Air 340 Force Chapels) Bill, which has just been read a first time. I do not think that is a controversial measure or one that will take any time. On Thursday I think the noble Lord, Lord Amulree, is going to take the Committee stage of the Rating and Valuation (No. 2) Bill, to which your Lordships have given a Second Reading, and then there is a Motion in the name of my noble friend Lord Elibank. I understand that in another place they are not adjourning until Friday. If it is possible to have the Royal Commission on Thursday, there will be no business in your Lordships' House for Friday. If, on the other hand, it should be necessary to wait for some Bill from another place, I would ask your Lordships to have a formal meeting on Friday in order that the Royal Commission may be held on that day. At any rate, it would only be formal business. I think that for Whitsuntide it will be convenient, if your Lordships see fit, that we adjourn until Tuesday, May 24.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDMy Lords, may I ask if it would be possible on one of the early days next week to get the Second Reading of the British Museum Bill?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMI think that probably could be done, but as my noble friend Lord Snowden is in charge of the Bill and is not here to-day, and was not able to put it down, I do not imagine that noble Lords opposite would think that it was any breach of understanding if one were to put a minor Bill like that down for one day next week. Of course, it would not be Tuesday in any event because of the Motion which the noble Lord has on the Paper, but on Wednesday we might very well take the Second Reading.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI suppose the noble Viscount cannot tell us what business will be taken first after the Recess? It is early days, I know, to ask him, but there is just a chance that he might know.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMI am sorry. When my noble friend was Leader of the House he could always answer any question. I have not yet got his experience. I hope next week to be able to tell him the answer to that question.
§ House adjourned at four minutes past five o'clock.