§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEMy Lords, as it is not unusual at this time of the Session for changes to be made in the programme of business, may I ask the noble Viscount the Leader of the House if he will be good enough to say whether there is any alteration in the business set down on the Paper for to-morrow? I should like at the same time to ask whether it is proposed that we should sit on Monday next.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord for asking this question. We shall meet to-morrow at three o'clock instead of at the usual time. The Motion standing in the name of my noble friend Lord Melchett is postponed, but the Government business will be as on the Paper. I am afraid, however, that I must ask your Lordships to allow me to be guilty of a slight irregularity. As your Lordships no doubt know there is a statement to be made in another place with regard to air policy in answer to a question. There will, of course, be no debate upon it. I think it would be well if the Secretary of State for Air, who is a member of your Lordships' House, made the same statement in identic language at as nearly as possible the same time here. Therefore, I propose to ask your Lordships to allow him to intervene either before or after the Committee stage of the Milk Bill, as 775 may be most convenient, in order to make the statement which is being made in another place, so that your Lordships may be informed with regard to it.
The other question which the noble Lord asked was with regard to sitting on Monday. I think it will be convenient to have a sitting on Monday, because there is a good deal of business which has to be got through at this stage of the Session and I am anxious that Tuesday's sitting shall be mainly occupied with the Report stage of the Road Traffic Bill.
§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEAt what time will the House meet on Monday?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMI think that on Monday it will be sufficient if the House meets at the usual time, a quarter past four, and probably that will be more convenient than an earlier time. There are a good many more or less formal Bills, such as the Colonial Stock Bill and the Isle of Man (Customs) Bill, which require a Second Reading, but I do not think that there is anything on Monday which is likely to prove contentious. I think that if we meet at a quarter past four we shall be able to dispose of our business at a reasonable time. That will leave the decks clear on Tuesday for the Report stage of the Road Traffic Bill and perhaps the Milk Bill, though as to that I shall have to ascertain. The Bills I have mentioned are on the Order Paper for Tuesday, but I am proposing to put upon the Paper a Motion that they shall be taken a day earlier, and I shall move that Motion at the commencement of business tomorrow.
§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEI am very much obliged to the Leader of the House for giving us this information. He has told us of an important statement which is to be made to-morrow in another place, and from what he said I feel sure that that statement should be made simultaneously here, by the Secretary of State for Air. I understand that it will be a statement which will not be debated, but I should like to say now, as we are approaching the end of the Session, that if the importance of the statement necessitates our desiring on this side of the House some time for a discussion on the subject which is raised, I hope the Leader of the House will give 776 us an opportunity if he possibly can, and allow us time to put down a Motion which will lead to such a debate.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMOf course, I shall be only too pleased to do everything in my power to facilitate a debate.
§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEIf it is necessary.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMIf noble Lords on the other side of the House think it necessary. I cannot give a pledge as to time, because there is a certain amount of necessary business to be done, but I will certainly do everything I can to arrange the business of the House so that there shall be full opportunity for a discussion after the statement has been considered and digested.
§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEI thank the noble Viscount.