THE MARQUESS OF CREWEMy Lords, I beg to ask the noble Viscount the Leader of the House a question on Business. I am informed that the Report of the Palestine Commission is to be issued to the public on the night of Wednesday next. The matter will be of deep interest to every member of your Lordships' House, and I understand that the Report is a very voluminous document. Some little time will therefore probably be required for its examination before it can be debated here. I should be grateful if the noble Viscount could inform me whether he has in mind the question of a debate on this subject in this House, and whether, as I presume is the case, he has been in communication on the subject with his colleagues in another place.
§ VISCOUNT HALIFAXMy Lords, I had certainly anticipated, as' the noble Marquess suggests, that it would be your Lordships' desire to have an opportunity for the discussion of the Palestine Commission Report after the Report has been laid. I had also anticipated, as the noble Marquess also suggested, that, having regard to the nature of the Report, it would be the desire of your Lordships that some days at least should elapse between the laying of the Report and opportunity for debate. I have been in communication with those who direct the business of another place, because I think it is perhaps desirable, as far as may he, to keep debates in both Houses reasonably close together, but I understand that no official decision has yet been reached. Therefore, if the noble Marquess would allow me, I would place myself in communication with him and others in this House who are interested—my noble friend the Chairman would, I hope, be able to be present whenever we decide to have the debate—and communicate with them as to the actual date which would be the most generally convenient.
Before moving the adjournment of the House, may I say a word or two about other business? It is proposed to take the remaining stages of the Coal (Registration of Ownership) Bill—the Report and 37 Third Reading—on Thursday next; and I propose to place a Motion on the Paper to that effect. That will appear to-morrow. I hope that no objection will be taken to that course, as I think the main matters of difference that arise on the Bill have now been amicably adjusted. My noble friend Lord Hastings authorised me, if he was not able to be in his place, to say that he and those for whom he acts would raise no objection to that course. The alternative would be to ask your Lordships to sit on Friday to take the Third Reading, and that, I am advised, would not generally be held to be convenient.
It is proposed to move the consideration of the Committee stage of the Factories Bill from Thursday next to Monday, the 12th, in order to leave further time for consideration of the Marriage Bill in Committee on Thursday, if that course be found necessary. It is hoped to conclude the Committee stage of the Factories Bill on Tuesday, the lath. I understand that 38 the Motion for the Third Reading of the London Passenger Transport Board Bill has now been put off till the 14th. Therefore, the Committee stage of the Marriage Bill will be the first Order on the Paper for Wednesday next, and I anticipate that the House may find it necessary to sit on that day after dinner. Time will be found for the Report stage of the Marriage Bill on Thursday the 15th. It is proposed to take the Third Reading on Monday, the 19th. It is hoped to take the Report stage of the Factories Bill on Thursday, July 22, and the Third Reading on Monday, the 26th. Noble Lords will forgive me for looking so far ahead, but I know that at this stage of the Session it is not inconvenient to noble Lords to know how to adjust their business. After to-morrow, Tuesday, the House will meet for public business every day at three o'clock.
§ House adjourned at eight minutes before five o'clock.