Lords Sitting of 22 December 1938

Preamble
The House met at ten minutes before twelve of the clock, The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
CUSTODY OF CHILDREN (SCOTLAND) BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a; and to be printed.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDER (MID-STAFFORDSHIRE JOINT HOSPITAL DISTRICT) BILL.
Returned from the Commons, with the Amendments agreed to.
BREAKING UP OF STREETS BY STATUTORY UNDERTAKERS.
Message from the Commons to acquaint the House that they have appointed a Select Committee of seven members to join with a Committee to be appointed by the Lords to consider those sections of the Gasworks Clauses Act, 1847, the Waterworks Clauses Act, 1847, the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1882 to 1936, and the Schedule to the Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act, 1899, which relate to the breaking up of streets for the purpose of laying pipes and other works, and to report what, if any, modifications of those provisions should be made to meet modern conditions with a view to their incorporation in future Bills and Orders promoted by statutory Undertakers; and that they have made the following orders: That leave be given to the Committee to hear parties interested by themselves, their counsel, or agents, so far as the Committee think fit; that the Committee have power to send for persons, papers, and records; that three be the quorum. The Commons requested their Lordships to appoint an equal number of Lords to be joined with the said Committee.

THE RECESS.
THE EARL OF LUCAN: My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend the Leader of
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the House, I beg to move, That the House on its adjournment do adjourn for business, other than Judicial Business, until the 7th of February, 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. Provided that in the event of the Lord Chancellor being unable to act owing to illness or other cause, the Chairman of Committees, in his capacity as Deputy Speaker, be authorised to act in his stead for the purposes of this Resolution.
Moved, That the House on its adjournment do adjourn for business, other than Judicial Business, until the 7th of February, 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. Provided that in the event of the Lord Chancellor being unable to act owing to illness or other cause, the Chairman of Committees, in his capacity as Deputy Speaker, be authorised to act in his stead for the purposes of this Resolution.—(The Earl of Lucan.)
On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Royal Assent was given to the following Bills:
Expiring Laws Continuance,
Public Works Loans,
Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland),
Glasgow Corporation Order Confirmation,
Paisley Corporation (Cart Navigation) Order Confirmation,
Aberdeen Corporation (General Powers) Order Confirmation,
National Trust for Scotland Order Confirmation,
Ministry of Health Provisional Order Confirmation (Mid-Staffordshire Joint Hospital District).
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.