§ 12.32 p.m.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)My Lords, I beg leave to 959 present a Bill to provide for the prolongation of the service of certain men serving in the armed forces of the Crown; and to move that it be read a first time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 1a.—(The Earl of Munster.)
§ On Question, Bill read 1a, and to be printed.
§ Then, Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended:
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, I think I can explain this Bill to your Lordships in a very few words. The object of this Prolongation of Service Bill is to authorise the detention until the end of the emergency of all men who might under the terms of their enlistment be entitled to be discharged at an earlier date. I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Earl of Munster.)
§ 12.34 p.m.
LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, this Bill has been introduced into your Lordships' House as one of the emergency measures. I take it that this is the one relating to Military and Air Forces (Prolongation of Service) which stands in the name of the noble Earl. As there are several other Service Bills I wanted to make certain of that. This is exactly the same legislation that we had at the beginning of the last War and my noble friends wish to support it.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House this day.
§ 12.35 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, in order that this Bill should pass through its remaining stages to-day I should, of course, now move that the Bill be now committed, but I am a little uncertain at the present moment whether an Amendment is necessary to subsection (3) of Clause 1. In the circumstances, perhaps your Lordships would allow me to take the Committee and other stages of this Bill at a later period to-day.
§ 12.36 p.m.