HL Deb 04 October 1939 vol 114 cc1331-2
EARL STANHOPE

My Lords, there is no business on the Order Paper for tomorrow; therefore I propose that on our adjournment this evening we should adjourn till Tuesday next. May I remind your Lordships that the House of Lords, sitting judicially, begins its sittings next week, and therefore we shall be unable to meet as early as we have been meeting in the past, on other days than Wednesday. Therefore we shall have to meet at a quarter past four on Tuesday, but the only business on the Paper for that day is to take the remaining stages of the Execution of Trusts (Emergency Provisions) Bill which was on the Paper to-day but which was postponed till that date, so it will be, as I understand, practically a formal sitting on Tuesday. On Wednesday I propose that we should meet at three o'clock and that then there should be first of all the questions by Lord Strabolgi and Lord Greville, which are already on the Paper and then perhaps, if the noble Lord opposite would put down a question asking for a statement, a statement will be made that day as the third business for that sitting. On Thursday I propose that the House should meet at a quarter past four to take the Finance Bill through all its stages, to be followed by a Royal Commission that same evening. I understand that my noble and learned friend on the Woolsack has been good enough to make arrangements for the future by which your Lordships, when you are sitting for judicial business, will meet at ten o'clock instead of at half-past ten and will sit till three. That will therefore enable your Lordships as a legislative Chamber to meet at half-past three instead of the usual quarter-past four. But that will not operate next week, because arrangements are not possible as soon as that. Therefore on Tuesday we meet at a quarter-past four for a more or less formal sitting; on Wednesday at three o'clock for a statement and the other business entered on the Paper; and on Thursday at a quarter-past four to take the Finance Bill through all its stages.

House adjourned at seven o'clock.