§ 7.37 p.m.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, with permission I will make a short Statement about future business. I had hoped that the Decimal Currency Bill would reach us from another place before your Lordships' House rose for the Easter Recess. It now seems that the House will rise this evening before the Bill is received. Alternative arrangements are therefore being made to enable the Second Reading to be taken as planned when we return. Your Lordships will see on the Order Paper which will be distributed to-morrow a Business of the House Motion in the name of my noble friend the Leader of the House, which is being tabled to-night to be moved on April 15. The purpose of this will be to enable the Bill to have its formal First Reading on that day, to be followed immediately by Second Reading. I should emphasise, however, that the Bill will be printed and available for distribution and consideration tomorrow.
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for making this Statement to the House. I think it desirable that the House should be fully aware of what is happening. I think that some, seeing on the Order Paper the very day we return a Motion to suspend Standing Orders to take two stages in one day, might have thought 1456 that the noble Lord's Party were trying to rush things. But I am sure that, with his explanation, the House will be satisfied.