HL Deb 09 November 1939 vol 114 cc1798-800

LORD SNELL had given Notice that he would ask His Majesty's Government if they have any statement to make on the international situation; and move for Papers. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I understand that there is no statement to be made to-day, and in consequence I will not move the Motion which stands in my name. I would, however, express my own and, I believe, the wishes of the whole House that the Prime Minister will be speedily restored to complete health.

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (EARL STANHOPE)

My Lords, I need hardly say how grateful we are for the expression of sympathy by the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition. I understand that the attack of gout from which the Prime Minister is suffering is likely to be of short duration. From what we know in the past, when he has had a short rest from one of these attacks he usually returns to the fray with a renewed vigour, and even in greater fettle to deal with the difficult situation in which the country finds itself than he was before the attack began. I hope that may again be the experience on this occasion. I am very much obliged to the noble Lord opposite. I am sure it will give great pleasure to the Prime Minister himself.

With regard to next week's business, there is none on the Paper of your Lordships' House for Tuesday. Therefore I propose that we should meet on Wednesday of next week, November 15, for the first time in the week. For that day the noble Lord, Lord Arnold, has a Motion on the Paper for a Secret Session of the House. On Thursday, the 16th, it is expected that a statement will be made on behalf of the Government, on the Motion by the noble Lord opposite similar to the one he was good enough to with-hold to-day. There will also be the National Loans Bill which will come up to us the night before from another place. I understand that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is anxious that that Bill should go through as soon as possible, and therefore I shall ask your Lordships to pass it through all its stages here on Thursday. I hope to be able to get a copy of the Bill as presented in another place, so that it can be circulated to your Lordships earlier in the week, and thus you will have an opportunity of studying it before it comes to your Lordships' House. I hope that will be satisfactory to your Lordships. I am sorry that the House will not have a longer opportunity of considering the measure than that one day. We propose that there should be a Royal Commission that evening, for that measure, if your Lordships so approve, and also the two Bills that we have dealt with to-day.

LORD SNELL

Will the House meet at half-past three on Wednesday?

EARL STANHOPE

Yes, at half-past three both on Wednesday and Thursday.

House adjourned at twenty-one minutes before four o'clock.