§ 2.41 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, I beg to ask leave to ask the Question of which I have given Private Notice; namely, to ask Her Majesty's Government why this House was not informed yesterday of the Statement made in another place by the Minister of Public Building and Works about building control, and whether Her Majesty's Government will now inform this House of the contents of that Statement.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)My Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister of Public Building and Works yesterday made a Statement on building control which resulted from the fact that the Building Control Bill, at present passing through its stages in the House of Commons, would be unable to pass into law because of the impending Dissolution of Parliament. On the information available, I felt that it would not be right for this Statement to be made in this House, as the Statement referred to a Bill which was before 1102 another place and of which this House therefore has no cognisance. It is, of course, a well-established principle of our Constitution that neither House may concern itself with legislation which is before the other. It may be that an element of misunderstanding entered into my decision, and, if so, I express regret for it.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, I do not wish to pursue this matter unduly, but I must say that when one looks at the Statement that was made one sees that it deals entirely with the exercise of building control at the present time. The noble Earl has not answered the second part of my Question and I would, if I may, put this further point to him. If there is to be a further Statement to-day about this matter, will that be communicated to this House?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Viscount for giving me the opportunity of answering that point. There will be a further Statement to-day in another place and, if the House approves, that Statement will be made here as soon as possible after half-past three.