§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEMay I ask the noble and learned Viscount whether he is making any arrangements for an earlier assembly of your Lordships' House on Tuesday next?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord. I had hoped that we might sit at three o'clock on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week. I understand it will not be possible for us to meet before half-past three on Tuesday, when the Motion for the setting up of the Joint Committee on the India White Paper will be moved by the Lord Chancellor, but I hope we may be able to sit at three o'clock on Wednesday and Thursday. I gather that the suggestion which the noble Lord, Lord Lamington, made, of sitting late is not one which commends itself to the majority of the House. It seems to meet the general convenience better that we should conduct our debates before the dinner adjournment on each day, and I have ascertained that there is such a number of speakers as makes it, I think, quite certain that the debate will have to take the three days. Therefore I think your Lordships may take it as definite that we shall meet at half-past three on Tuesday, and we shall continue the debate at three o'clock on Wednesday and three o'clock on Thursday.
I hope to reach a conclusion on Thursday, because it is essential to communicate our assent, assuming we agree, to the House of Commons on Thursday in order that they may set up the names of their Committee on Monday. I would then propose to set up our members of the Committee on Tuesday, April 11. I hope that the Motion to set up names will be a mere formality. There will be discussions through the usual channels, but if we are to have a debate it will take place on Tuesday, and I do not think it will last more than a single day.
§ House adjourned at half-past seven o'clock.