§ 5.30 p.m.
§ EARL FORTESCUEMy Lords, with your Lordships' permission, I have a statement to make with regard to future Business. There are already seven speakers on the Motion on the Order Paper for to-morrow in the name of the noble Earl, Lord Cork, and about thirteen or fourteen on the Transport Motion, Therefore, it has been arranged through the usual channels that we should take Lord Cork's Motion first, which will probably continue until half-past four or five o'clock. It is then proposed to take the Transport Motion, to adjourn the House at seven o'clock, and to continue the debate on that Motion on Tuesday next.
§ EARL JOWITTMy Lords, the noble Earl says that it has been agreed "through the usual channels." Is he sure that he is right? What happened, so far as I am concerned, was that my noble friend Lord Shepherd came to me and told me of this proposal and asked what I thought about it. After seeing those concerned with the Transport Motion it was obvious that they were reluctant to do this. Therefore, I said that I would not agree. I cannot think that after that Lord Shepherd would have agreed, and I feel that there must be a 846 misunderstanding. I feel this would be a most inconvenient arrangement. It is unfortunate that we cannot start our discussion on the Transport Bill earlier. Personally, I should rather have had a full day of it, even if it meant going over to Tuesday. I think it is most unsatisfactory to have a debate in two parts. I do not think, after you have had the first "bite at the cherry," so to speak, that it is possible to get the debate satisfactorily going again. I am inclined to think that it would be better to put off the whole matter until Tuesday. May I make this suggestion? The machinery seems to have broken down. Would noble Lords consent to the matter being mentioned again to-morrow, and in the meantime we will get busy, through the usual channels, and try to make an arrangement that will satisfy everybody?
LORD REAMy Lords, may I support the noble and learned Earl? One noble Lord who was corning to speak tomorrow will not now be able to come. The normal channels have been blocked in this direction. I should appreciate it if the noble Earl's suggestion could be considered.
§ EARL FORTESCUEI understood from Lord Shepherd that he had agreed on behalf of noble Lords opposite to this arrangement. We will look into the matter again and I will make a statement early to-morrow.
§ EARL JOWITTI am sure that there must be some misunderstanding
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI would say this to the noble Earl. Of course, we will revert to the matter tomorrow, but there is no Business on the Paper for Tuesday, and I am still doubtful whether we shall be able to complete the debate on Transport in a single day. That I do not know. This seemed to me a possibility—and I am putting it to the noble Lords only so that they may consider it overnight: we could have, say, the first part of the debate, to include a statement by my noble friend, Lord Leathers, to-morrow. That would give an opportunity to the Opposition and to the noble Lords on the Government side to consider what he says. That would be half a day. Then there would be a full day to finish the debate on Tuesday, for which day, as I say, there is at present no Business.