Lords Sitting of 22 December 1937

Preamble
The House met at a quarter past four of the clock, The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a; and to be printed.
PRIVATE BILLS (CONSOLIDATION).
Message from the Commons, to acquaint the House that they concur with the Lords in the Resolution of December 16 last—namely, That it is desirable that in the present Session all Private Bills for the exclusive purpose of consolidating the provisions of existing Private Acts of Parliament, Acts Confirming Provisional Orders, and Special Orders, be referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills; and that the Joint Committee shall not take into consideration any petition against any such Bill if the petitioners seek to alter the existing law.

SELECT COMMITTEE ON ROAD ACCIDENTS.
LORD NEWTON: My Lords, I desire to ask my noble friend the Leader of the House a question of which I have given him private notice. I want to know whether he can give me any information with regard to the setting up of the Committee on road accidents which was agreed to a fortnight ago. There has been, I regret to say, some delay in the matter, and I do not see that it will be possible for any work to be done before the middle of February. But at all events, if he is unable to give the names of the Chairman and members of the Committee, perhaps he will give the name of the official to whom the numerous communications which are arriving from all sources should be sent. I ask that for this special reason, that I observe a rival or hostile Committee consisting of irresponsible persons belonging to this House has already been set up, according to the newspapers,
560
and there may consequently be considerable confusion in the minds of the public as to which body to address.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (VISCOUNT HALIFAX): My Lords, I am obliged to my noble friend for giving me an opportunity of making a statement upon a matter of general public interest. I hope I shall be able to set his mind at rest as regards the possibility of confusion between several bodies. As the noble Lord himself knows, steps are being taken towards settling the composition of the Select Committee which, as the result of the noble Lord's Motion the other day, your Lordships decided should go into the question of the prevention of road accidents. It has not been possible to put a Motion down before the Christmas Recess, containing the names of the noble Lords whom it is proposed should compose the Committee, but I can assure the noble Lord that amongst the earliest business when the House reassembles will be found the consideration of such a Motion, and the Committee will get to work as soon as possible thereafter. Meanwhile, if any noble Lords, or any of the public generally, have any communications which they wish should be considered by the Committee, they should address them to the Secretary of the Committee at the House of Lords.

THE RECESS.
VISCOUNT HALIFAX: My Lords, I beg to move the Motion that stands on the Paper in my name.
Moved to resolve, That the House, on its adjournment, do adjourn for business, other than Judicial Business, until the 1st of February next, except that if it appears to the satisfaction of the Lord Chancellor that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during such adjournment, the Lord Chancellor may give notice to the Peers that he is so satisfied, and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such Notice, and shall transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time.— (Viscount Halifax.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Royal Assent was given to the following Bills:—

Quail Protection,

Air-Raid Precautions,

Public Works Loans (No. 2),

Empire Exhibition (Scotland) Order Confirmation,

562

Rothesay Harbour Order Confirmation,

Glasgow Boundaries Order Confirmation.

House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.
House adjourned at twenty-five minutes before five o'clock.