§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, perhaps I may say that I understand there is no further business now until six o'clock, when a Royal Commission will sit. It may be convenient, however, if I tell your Lordships that I understand that a Bill commonly known as the Means Test Bill is likely to pass through its remaining stages in another place late to-night. I think it is probably a certified Bill—I understand that there is a doubt about that—but it is at any rate a Bill which it is essential to pass urgently before the end of the Session, and I am proposing therefore to ask your Lordships to deal with it to-morrow. I 1324 am putting a Motion on the Paper to suspend the Standing Orders in order that it may pass through all its stages to-morrow, so that the Prorogation may take place on Thursday.
§ LORD SNELLIncluding the First Reading?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMYes. Of course, it would be possible to have the First Reading at 11 o'clock to-night, and then the Second Reading to-morrow, but I propose, out of consideration for those who would have to attend, to ask your Lordships to follow a precedent set by my noble friend Lord Salisbury, and allow me to put the Motion in a form which would permit of our taking the First Reading and the subsequent stages to-morrow afternoon.