HL Deb 30 January 1957 vol 201 cc252-3

2.43 p.m.

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)

My Lords, before we proceed to the Business on the Order Paper I should like to make a brief statement about certain changes in the Business of the House which I think have been rendered necessary by the fact that the Committee stage of the Cinematograph Films Bill has taken rather longer than was, perhaps, anticipated. It is now proposed that the Committee stage of the Cinematograph Films Bill should go on to-morrow until seven o'clock. I understand that it is the wish of the Opposition that we should not proceed further to-morrow, and that we should conclude the Bill on Tuesday next. That will necessitate two other alterations. The Second Reading of the Transport (Railway Finances) Bill will be postponed from to-morrow, Thursday, for a week, until Thursday, February 7, and the Committee stage of the Shops Bill will be postponed for a week, from Tuesday next until Tuesday, February 12. I think the House will probably agree—at least I hope it will—that it will be better to complete the Committee stage of the Cinematograph Films Bill and have it out of the way before we proceed further with the other Bills.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, I am agreeable to the changes which are made. I understand that it will cause inconvenience to some noble Lords on both sides of your Lordships' House, but one has to make the best possible arrangements in all the circumstances. As to the time to be occupied with the Committee stage of the Cinematograph Films Bill, so much will depend upon the progress made with the Committee stage of the Ghana Independence Bill to-morrow. Those noble Lords on my side who are interested in the Cinematograph Films Bill feel that it is no use trying to complete that Committee stage to-morrow, when we shall not be starting on it until more than halfway through the day; that is why we want extra time. We will do our best under those conditions to make it go, but we must have adequate consideration of the Ghana Independence Bill.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Viscount. Of course, we desire as much as he does that adequate time should be given to the consideration of all business. I am only sorry that the Cinematograph Films Bill should have taken so long; but there were important points to be discussed, and I am sure the House will understand.