§ 2.37 p.m.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, I hope your Lordships will forgive me if I make a short announcement regarding future Business before we come to the Business on the Order Paper for this afternoon. First, I am afraid that it will be necessary for the House to meet at 2.30 p.m., instead of at 3 o'clock, on Thursday afternoon next, May 14, in order to enable us to cope with the Business which has accumulated before we can come to the important debate on Historic Houses which stands in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Methuen, for that day. Secondly, we shall receive the Flood Relief Bill from another place to-day. As your Lordships know, this Bill is urgently needed to enable local authorities, with the aid of the Treasury, to cope with important measures for relief and protection from the violence of the sea before next winter sets in. Noble Lords opposite have, I understand, kindly agreed to co-operate with us on this side of the House to press forward with that Bill. We shall accordingly take the Second Reading on Thursday next—that 388 is part of the additional Business which has come up for that day—and the Committee and remaining stages on Tuesday of next week, May 19, in order that we may be able to return it to another place in time for their consideration of any Amendments which the House may think it necessary to suggest. I hope this will be convenient to noble Lords opposite.
§ EARL JOWITTMy Lords, we certainly think it essential that we should co-operate with noble Lords in regard to the Flood Relief Bill, and we accept the arrangements which the noble Marquess has outlined.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I need hardly say that I do not intend it to be the usual practice that there should be such a short period between Second Reading and the later stages of a Bill.