§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ Moved, That Standing Order No. 35 (Arrangement of the Order Paper) and Standing Order No. 41 (No two stages of a Bill to be taken on one day) be suspended until the House adjourns for the Recess.—(Viscount Hailsham.)
LORD REAMy Lords, of course we appreciate that the state of Business makes this Motion necessary, and none of us resents it in the least, but I wonder whether the noble Viscount can give us a little assurance about how this will be used. To-day we have the Covent Garden Market Bill, which is a controversial measure. If the Government chose, they could use this Motion to pass the Report stage and Third Reading and to pass the Bill on to the Statute Book to-day, whereas I am sure many noble Lords would like an opportunity of going into the matter further. I do not suggest that the Government are going to take that step, but could we have an assurance that this authority will be used with discretion and kindness?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, I will certainly always try to act with discretion and kindness, so far as I am capable of those qualities. The Chief Whip is sitting on my left hand to hear what I say, and it is certainly not our intention, so far as I know, to take the Report and Third Reading of the Covent Garden Market Bill to-day.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.