PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) BILL. (Hansard, 27 July 1939)

§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (EARL STANHOPE)

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Earl De La Warr, I beg to move that this Bill be read a first time. I propose, in view of the outrages of which your Lordships have read in the Press this morning, that the House should be asked to pass this Bill through all its stages tomorrow. It was proposed originally that the further stages should be taken on Monday, but I think your Lordships will agree with His Majesty's Government that it is advisable that the Bill should become law at the earliest possible moment. We therefore hope to get the Royal Assent to-morrow. But there is one difficulty about it. There are several Amendments which the Government would desire to be inserted in the Bill. Therefore we propose, although it is not in accordance with the usual precedent of this House, that the Amendments should be circulated with the Bill to-night, although the Bill will not have received a Second Reading. That will enable your Lordships to study the Amendments and be able to take part in the discussion to-morrow, when we go into Committee if, as I imagine it will, 617 the House is prepared to give the Bill a Second Reading.

I propose also that the Bill should be placed as the first Order on the Paper to-morrow. As soon as we have completed all the stages of the Bill we shall be able to return it to another place so that they can agree to the Amendments made by your Lordships, and then the Bill can return here in order to receive the Royal Assent. I hope that that will be in accordance with your Lordships' wishes. I may add that there are now available for your Lordships copies of the Bill in the Printed Paper Office. The Bill is available for anybody to study now if so desired.