§ 9.43 p.m.
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, I had hoped that we might have been able to make progress with the Report stage of the Industrial Relations Bill this evening, but your Lordships have shown a rather exceptional interest in the National Insurance Bill, and I think it might perhaps be beter if we postponed the start of the Report stage on the Industrial Relations Bill until to-morrow. I hope, however, that Io-morrow we can make really good progress on the start of this stage.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I think the noble Earl has taken a wise decision. I think it is too late in the evening to start a Report stage. I rather regret the noble Earl's suggestion that an exceptional interest has been taken in what I thought the Government regarded as a major Bill and which, owing to the hour at which it came on, has not had the attention which it might have had. None the less, we have taken note of what he said. I gather that there was earlier a lengthy but extremely good debate, of a kind which, if I had taken part in it, I should probably have kept the House going for several hours if the House was willing to listen to me. However, in these circumstances, I think it is wise for us to adjourn now.