HL Deb 11 March 1953 vol 180 cc1281-2

2.37 p.m.

EARL JOWITT

My Lords, can the noble Viscount the Deputy Leader of the House give us an indication of how far he intends to go to-night with this Transport Bill? I am completely committed, speaking on behalf of this side, to giving the noble Viscount the completion of the Committee stage to-morrow night. The only question is, how we shall divide it up. I think it is convenient to Members to know, so that they can make their arrangements. I suggest that we might get to the end of Clause 22, or possibly the end of Clause 23, whichever suits the noble Viscount better. It is convenient that we should know in advance.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (VISCOUNT SWINTON)

My Lords, I am obliged to the noble and learned Earl. Naturally, I would entirely wish to suit the convenience of the House. I think the suggestion which the noble and learned Earl has made is a happy one. If we confined ourselves to-day to Clauses 14 to 22 then, with the exception of Clause 16, which deals with a different subject, we should be able to devote the whole of the day to the various aspects of the railway clauses, to which the noble and learned Earl, and, indeed, the whole House, rightly attach a good deal of importance. Therefore, I gladly accept the suggestion that we should complete to-night our consideration of Clause 22 or Clause 23. If there is nothing much in Clause 23 we may as well take that also, so that we can go forward from there on the following day. Perhaps I may at the same time make one other comment. There are on the Paper for to-morrow three small Orders which would normally be dealt with first. Obviously, those ought to go to the bottom of the list, so that when we start to-morrow we can carry straight on with the Transport Bill. So far as today's business is concerned, I gladly accept the noble and learned Earl's suggestion.

EARL JOWITT

The proposition, then, is that we go to the end of Clause 22 and, if it appears that there is nothing much in Clause 23, we throw in that clause, so to speak; but that our target is the end of Clause 22

VISCOUNT SWINTON

Yes, the "target for to-night" is Clause 22. If we manage the subsidiary operation, so much the better.