§ 4.25 p.m.
§ LORD SNELLMy Lords, I beg to ask the noble Earl, the Leader of the House, if any statement can be made about the business of the House for next week.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (EARL STANHOPE)My Lords, there is no business on the paper for tomorrow and so I propose that we should 602 not meet, except for judicial business, until next Tuesday. Then I propose that the House should meet next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, February 27, consideration will be given to certain Draft Orders under the Government of India and Government of Burma Acts, reported from the India and Burma Orders Committee yesterday. Then, secondly, there will be the Committee stage of Lord Wright's Solicitors (Emergency Provisions) Bill, of which we took the Second Reading yesterday. We shall also take the Committee stage of the Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies (Emergency Protection from Forfeiture) Bill, to which your Lordships have just given a Second Reading. Lastly, on Tuesday, we have consideration of Lord Astor's Motion on the need for improving the production and distribution of food in war time.
For Wednesday, February 28, the business on the Paper is Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Motion urging the need for drastic curtailment of consumption of goods by the civilian public. The business for Thursday will include the Second Reading of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Bill, provided that we are able to give it a formal First Reading on Monday next. I am not quite sure how soon it will be finished with in another place, but if we manage to get the First Reading on Monday at a formal sitting of the House, I propose that the Second Reading should take place on Thursday. Of course, if the Bill does not reach us on Monday, we shall have to reconsider that arrangement, in order that your Lordships may have time to see the Bill and consider it before it is discussed here. Also, on Thursday, there is a Motion by the Duke of Montrose on the lack of adequate comfort for members of the Services when travelling or on leave.
I understand that from now on the judicial members of your Lordships' House are meeting later, and that therefore they will not finish their business in time for us to meet at half-past three o'clock, as we have been doing. I therefore propose that in future we should meet every day at four o'clock instead of half-past three. I hope that that will not inconvenience your Lordships. The House will remember that Summer Time comes into force next week end, on Sunday next, so that we shall get an hour's 603 more daylight, and I trust that meeting half an hour later will not be an inconvenience to your Lordships.
§ LORD SNELLWill there be any statement on the international situation next week?
§ EARL STANHOPESo far as I know, I do not think so. I am not sure yet. Of course events may arise which may make it necessary, but so far as I know I do not think there will be one.
§ House adjourned at twenty-eight minutes past four o'clock.