HL Deb 08 April 1941 vol 118 cc1026-7

Brought from the Commons; and read 1a.

Then, Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended:

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD CROFT)

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be read a second time. I understand that it is possible for the remaining stages to be taken at the next sitting. As your Lordships know, it has to be taken within a certain time. The Amendments embodied in the Bill are, I think, very simple, and unless your Lordships desire to call attention to any one of them I think that it is unnecessary for me to say anything about them to-day.

Moved, That the Bill be read 2a.—(Lord Croft.)

LORD ADDISON

My Lords, although most of us are tolerably familiar with this Bill, which may be truly described as a hardy annual, may I ask the noble Lord whether it would not be possible to give the House a little longer opportunity for seeing the Bill rather than expect us, as I have no doubt we shall quite willingly, to pass it at the next sitting? Is it the custom that we should have only such a short time in which to consider a Bill of this kind, or is it necessary?

LORD CROFT

My Lords, you realise that there has been a lot of business in another place, and in fact this Bill has only recently come along. We had been hoping to take it last week. The Amendments proposed in this Bill are so very simple that they have not aroused any controversy in another place. I understand the Bill was circulated when it was first introduced into the House of Commons.

LORD TEMPLEMORE

My Lords, I should like to add one word to what has been said by my noble friend Lord Croft. Although this Bill has come up here at short notice, and has been somewhat hurriedly passed, may I say that, unlike those Bills that go through all their stages at one sitting, all the stages of this Bill are not being taken to-day. The Third Reading and the passing of the Bill will give an opportunity to noble Lords in any part of the House to raise any points if they wish to do so.

LORD ADDISON

My Lords, I hope the noble Lord will not think that, in raising the point I have made, I am offering or suggesting any opposition to this Bill, or to any of the Amendments made in it. I am not. I have only done what I have done in order to secure as far as may be that the House shall have all reasonable opportunity of examining these Bills at leisure.

On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.