§ 3.37 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I rise, with the permission of the House, on the matter of the remaining Business for to-day, because I notice that the noble Marquess, the Leader of the House, is in his place. We, the Opposition, have an important Motion on the Paper in regard to which we were greatly indebted to the noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury, who made me a promise on March 5 that we should be able to have a debate on this subject. After a brief conversation with the Chief Whip, and also with the noble Marquess, we had Government time granted to us to-day, and the Minister of Power has arranged to be here to deal with the matter. While I have not a word of criticism to offer of the noble Lord who has just spoken, what is wrong with this arrangement is that the precedence of the Business has not been fair to 608 the Opposition and does not fit in with the conversations we had on the matter. I am sure the noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury, would not think it is in accordance with the spirit of what he so kindly promised and arranged. Therefore, I think we have no option but to ask the House—I am giving the longest notice I can—to allow us to withdraw the Motion that has been put down to-day, and we must seek from the Government some other day, possibly of Government time, in which to deal with it.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, I can assure the noble Viscount that we are sorry matters should have worked out this way. As he said, this is a Government day. The Motion in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Somers, which is now being debated, is a Prayer, and since this is the last day on which the Prayer could be taken, the noble Lord's Motion had priority. I am sure we are all agreed, whatever view we may take about the Homicide Bill, that it is important to get it completed as soon as possible. Therefore, I think it was inevitable that the Motion of the noble Viscount, Lord Hall, should come third on the Order Paper. However, I had not anticipated that it would be quite so late as it has turned out to be before it was reached. I can only express my great regret, and say that we shall be glad to arrange another date, which I am sure would be better, in the circumstances, on so important a subject.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Marquess. I would only add that I hope he will give instructions that, in such a case as this, where he has gone out of his way to give us time for a debate, in arranging the Business for that day there might be some consultation with the Opposition.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I do not think anyone imagined that the noble Viscount's Motion would come on so late. I am sure that no one would wish the conclusion of the Homicide Bill to be delayed longer than is necessary. I should say that that was perhaps even more important than any other Motion which could be brought forward. Therefore, I am sure there will be no difference of view in any part of the 609 House. We do our best to see that the Business of the House is properly arranged, and it is not often that difficulties of this kind occur.
§ VISCOUNT HALLMy Lords, in view of all the circumstances which have been explained, I do not intend to move my Motion to-day.
LORD REAMy Lords, I am sure that the arrangement to which we have come is satisfactory to all concerned. May I strike a warning note for the future? It might be that there were noble Lords who were anxious to speak on the Motion of the noble Viscount and who took the trouble to come to the House, only to find, at twenty minutes to four, that the Motion is postponed to another day. I do not think that that has happened in this case, but I would point out that, in cases of this sort, we must be careful that arrangements are made through the usual channels.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, in this particular case it is not the Government who are postponing the Motion.
LORD REAMy Lords, I fully appreciate what the noble Marquess has said and impute no discourtesy on his part that the Motion is now withdrawn.