§ 4.38 p.m.
§ LORD SNELLMy Lords, I beg to ask the noble Earl the Leader of the House if he can make any statement on the business of the House for next week.
§ EARL STANHOPEMy Lords, I propose that on Tuesday, February 20, we should take the Committee stages of the Cotton Industry Bill and the Special Enactments (Extension of Time) Bill: There is also already on the Paper Lord Faringdon's Motion on rural housing policy. I think we shall be able to take the Royal Commission somewhere about half-past five that day in order to pass the Trade Boards and Road Haulage Wages (Emergency Provisions) Bill into law, which passed through its final stages in your Lordships' House to-day. On Wednesday Lord Lamington has a Motion on the adoption of the twenty-four-hour system. There is also the Second Reading of the Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies (Emergency Protection from Forfeiture) Bill, and the Third Readings of the Cotton Industry Bill and of the Special Enactments (Extension of Time) Bill. For Thursday, at present, there is no business on the Paper, and a Government statement on the general situation is not expected. Proceedings on the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Bill are not expected to conclude in another place until late that evening, and therefore it will not be possible to receive the Bill that day in your Lordships' House. I propose, however, that there should be a formal sitting of the House on the following Monday, February 26, to receive the Bill and give it a First Reading, and then I shall ask your Lordships to give it a Second Reading the following Thursday, the 29th.