Lords Sitting of 20 June 1940

Preamble
The House met at three of the clock. The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
The Lord Farrer—Sat first in Parliament after the death of his father.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
LORD ADDISON: My Lords, may I ask the Deputy Leader of the House whether he can give us any information as to the business next week?
LORD SNELL: My Lords, on Tuesday the Second Reading of the Finance Bill will be taken and also the Second Reading of the Remission of Rates (London) Bill. On Wednesday, with the exception of the Committee stage of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Bill, the business so far as can be foreseen at present will be formal. On Thursday the Second Reading of the Colonial Development and Welfare Bill will be taken, and the remaining stages of the Finance Bill and of the Remission of Rates (London) Bill. There will also on that day be a Royal Commission. The House will meet each day at four o'clock.

FINANCE BILL.
Brought from the Commons, endorsed with the Certificate from the Speaker that the Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act, 1911; read 1a and to be printed.
REMISSION OF RATES (LONDON) BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1aand to be printed.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
LORD SNELL: My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Caldecote, may I say that it would obviously be for the convenience of the House if the Motion which stands in his name relating to the statement on Home Defence were to be taken immediately before the House goes into Secret Session. With your Lord-
652
Ships' consent, therefore, I would propose postponing this Motion until the items of business immediately following it upon the Paper have been disposed of.

LEAMINGTON PRIORS AND WARWICK GAS ORDER, 1940.
LORD TEMPLEMORE: My Lords, I beg to move the Motion which stands in my name on the Paper.
Moved, That the Special Orders, as reported from the Special Orders Committee on Tuesday last, be approved.—(Lord Templemore.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

LOCHABER WATER POWER ORDER CONFIRMATION BILL.
Read 3a(according to Order), and passed.

LAW REFORM (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) (SCOTLAND) BILL. [H.L.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
LORD ALNESS: My Lords, I feel sure that it will be for the convenience of your Lordships' House if I content myself with formally moving the Second Reading of this Bill.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Alness)
LORD STRABOLGI: My Lords, I am very sorry to have to strike a note of discord, but after all why postpone this Bill if the noble Lord can explain it? It touches a great many of the King's lieges, and at this time we should be very jealous of the duties of this Chamber.
LORD ALNESS: My Lords, I thought it would be for the convenience of the House that any explanation which my noble friend or any other noble Lord desires should be given at the next stage of the Bill, and I undertake to give it on the Committee stage. I hope that will satisfy the noble Lord.
On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

SECRET SESSION: HOME DEFENCE.
LOKD SNELL: My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Caldecote, I beg to move the Resolution which stands on the Paper in his name.
Moved to resolve, That the sitting of the House this day on the statement on Home Defence and the debate thereon, be secret.—(Lord Snell.)
On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.
The Official Reporter then withdrew.
House in Secret Session.
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD CROFT)THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD CROFT) then made a statement to the House. At its close, His Lordship moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee to consider the said statement.
Motion agreed to and ordered accordingly.
House in Committee accordingly.
After debate, House resumed.
House adjourned at twenty-six minutes past eleven o'clock.