HL Deb 30 July 1952 vol 178 cc433-5

2.38 p.m.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)

My Lords, I have an announcement of a somewhat important character to make about the Business to-morrow. As at present arranged, we are not due to meet until 3.45 p.m., and the only Business to be taken is the debate on the foreign policy of the Government towards Germany. Owing to the important character of the Amendments put down for consideration on the Report stage of the Defamation Bill, which now stands to be taken on Friday morning, according to the arrangements we had made, it has been necessary to make some alteration in that procedure. It has now been agreed that we shall advance the Report stage of the Defamation Bill from Friday until to-morrow. We shall, therefore, ask the House to agree to meet at 2.30 p.m., and devote the period between that hour and 3.45 p.m. to the Report stage of the Defamation Bill. At that time, we shall begin the foreign affairs debate, as already announced, the proceedings on the Defamation Bill being suspended or the House being adjourned during pleasure if the proceedings on the Bill are completed before that time. If at 3.45 p.m. the concluding stages of the Defamation Bill have not been completed, the House will return to the Bill after the conclusion of the foreign affairs debate. I will put down on the Order Paper to-night the necessary Motion to enable us to advance the Report stage of the Defamation Bill from Friday next to to-morrow afternoon.

VISCOUNT SIMON

My Lords, in reference to the announcement just made by the noble Marquess, may I ask whether it is intended that we shall complete the Report stage of the Defamation Bill tomorrow and then immediately take the Third Reading, so that the Bill will be finally dealt with in this House and will be in a position to be sent back to another place?

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

That is the intention.

LORD STRABOLGI

My Lords, arising out of the statement on Business tomorrow, in case the foreign affairs debate runs on, is it intended to adjourn for dinner or to go right through?

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

I think the idea is that we should go right through. I do not pretend that your Lordships may not be involved in rather a late sitting, but we have been in considerable difficulty in arranging our Business on the basis of the Amendments which were on the Paper. I have only just received notice that the noble Lord, Lord Douglas of Barloch, who was not present and who did not speak either during the Second Reading or on the Committee stage of the Defamation Bill, has now put down three major Amendments—I understand, to omit Clauses 4, 5 and 7. Your Lordships will see that that has put us in very considerable embarrassment, and it is only for that reason that I suggest this rather unusual alteration to our plans.

VISCOUNT SWINTON

Why is the noble Lord not here?