§ 2.35 p.m.
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (VISCOUNT ADDISON)My Lords, we are expecting to receive the Parliament Square (Improvements) Bill from another place during the course of to-day's sitting and I wish to take the first opportunity of informing the House of the steps we propose to take—to which the Government hope the House will agree—in order to enable this Bill and the Festival of Britain (Supplementary Provisions) Bill to receive the Royal Assent before Christmas. The Lord Chairman has agreed that a Motion in his name shall be placed on the Order Paper for tomorrow to the effect that the petitioning time against the Parliament Square (Improvements) Bill shall expire on Monday, December 12. This will coincide with the petitioning period against the Festival of Britain (Supplementary Provisions) Bill which also expires on that day. I think it will be for the general convenience of the House, as the Bills are to a certain extent linked together by their association with the Festival of Britain, that the further stages of both Bills shall be taken on Tuesday, December 13. On that day, if no Petitions have been presented, I propose to ask the House after the Second Reading debates to negative the unopposed Committee stage on both Bills and to take the Bills through their remaining stages.
In the case of the Parliament Square (Improvements) Bill it can be hoped that the proceedings will be formal. It is not proposed to make any Amendments to the Bill. I understand, however, that my noble friend who is in charge of the Festival of Britain (Supplementary Provisions) Bill has some Amendments of a non-contentious nature which he will 1260 move when the Bill is being considered in Committee of the Whole House. It will be necessary, of course, if the House accepts these Amendments, for the Bill to be returned to the Commons for their agreement. But in both cases it will be possible, if the Bills are unopposed, for them to become law before Christmas. I hope the House will accept this accelerrated procedure for these Bills.