HL Deb 30 January 1940 vol 115 cc449-50

3.43 p.m.

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (EARL STANHOPE)

My Lords, I suggest that the House should now adjourn during pleasure. We expect at any moment to receive a Bill from another place called the Gas and Steam Vehicles (Excise Duties) Bill, which is to give legislative effect to the proposals announced to your Lordships in November last, to free gas-propelled vehicles and steam vehicles from certain Excise Duties and so on. These proposals were warmly welcomed in all parts of the House, and therefore if your Lordships will agree—we can see to-morrow what your Lordships feel about it—I suggest that we should take the Bill through all its stages tomorrow so as to bring it before the Royal Commission which is to sit to-morrow afternoon to give the Royal Assent to the Bill we have just read a second time. I do not think your Lordships will wish to do anything with regard to this Bill. It is a certified Money Bill, and I think it will receive the approval of all your Lordships.

LORD SNELL

My Lords, we should not wish to hold up the Bill at all tomorrow. If the noble Earl puts it to us as a matter of urgency, we should give him our support in getting the Bill through.

EARL STANHOPE

I cannot really claim that it is urgent, but we do not want to interrupt the proceedings of either this House or another place by too many Royal Commissions. As there is to be a Royal Commission tomorrow, your Lordships might agree that this Bill should receive the Royal Assent then.

House adjourned during pleasure.

House resumed.