§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEMy Lords, in asking the noble and learned Viscount, the Leader of the House, what is the course of business in the future, I think I owe an apology to your Lordships for having put down at such very short notice a Motion for tomorrow, but the day was vacant and there was no way of getting it on the Paper except by putting it down to-day. I made every effort to give it as much publicity as I could and I gave warning to the Leader of the House.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)My Lords, the only business for to-morrow is the Third Readings of the two Bills of which we have just had the Report stage, which I think will be merely formal, and then the Motion to which the noble Lord has just referred. That, as your Lordships probably appreciate, is a Motion regarding the imposition of the embargo pursuant to the powers given by your Lordships and the House of Commons just before the Easter adjournment under the Russian Goods (Import Prohibition) Act.
614 As the noble Lord has said, he was of course unable to give notice until the embargo had been imposed and the result has been that it proved impossible to get any circular Notice sent out to your Lordships before this afternoon. As soon as the noble Lord was good enough to communicate with me by telegram I took what steps I could, but it was too late to do more than gain such publicity as was possible in the newspapers. The matter, as your Lordships will appreciate, is one of great importance and, therefore, though I regret very much that we shall not be able to adjourn from to-day until next Tuesday, I hope those of your Lordships who possibly can will make it convenient to attend to deal with this Motion and, if necessary, to vote in the Division upon it. Apart from that—I do not know what Budget secrets may involve because I have not been listening in another place—as far as I know we shall be able to adjourn to-morrow until next Tuesday. If anything unforeseen or untoward should occur I will do my best to let your Lordships know to-morrow afternoon.
§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEMy Lords, can the noble and learned Viscount tell us what the business for next Tuesday will be?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMI had not been quite prepared for that question, because I thought that as we were meeting to-morrow I should not be asked do not know of any surprises, but the business on the Order Paper is the Com- 615 mittee stage of the Education (Necessity of Schools) Bill, in the name of Lord Irwin, and a Motion by my noble friend Lord Mount Temple with regard to our relations with Russia, so that we shall have another opportunity of discussing Russia then.
VISCOUNT BUCKMASTERBefore the House adjourns may I mention just one other thing? The Bill whose Report of Amendments your Lordships have just received has merely got one further stage in this House—namely, the Third Reading and passing of the Bill. That can be put down for to-morrow. It is personally inconvenient for me to be here 616 late in the afternoon. Should I be asking too much of the noble Lord if I asked that my Bill should be placed at the head of the Paper? I think I can assure him that it will only take one minute.
§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEI shall be very glad to oblige my noble and learned friend.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMThe noble and learned Viscount may have to put a Motion on the Paper with respect to that.
§ House adjourned at twenty-two minutes past five o'clock.