§ THE EARL OF CRANBROOKMy Lords, I beg leave to withdraw the Meteorites Bill. I may speak only with the permission of the House, but with your Lordships' permission I should like to explain my apparent discourtesy in blowing hot and cold in this way. This 915 Bill was instigated by our three national museums—the Natural History Museum, the Royal Scottish Museum and the National Museum of Wales—after prolonged inter-departmental discussions. When I introduced it, I was under the impression that time would be found for it in another place if your Lordships were good enough to pass it. I have since heard that it is unlikely that time would be found, and in those circumstances I beg leave to withdraw it.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I, for one, object to the withdrawal of this Bill. We cannot debate it. We do not really know why it is being withdrawn. Either it is a simple Bill which would go through, as I thought, without any trouble, or we ought to give it a Second Reading to find out what is wrong with it.
§ LORD BALERNOMy Lords—
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD HAILSHAM OF ST. MARYLEBONE)My Lords, I am afraid it is my duty to say that if one noble Lord objects, leave is not granted, and with great respect to my noble friend who just rose, I think that is all that can be said, subject to what the noble Earl the Leader of the House may say.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, all I can do is to confirm what my noble and learned friend on the Woolsack has just said.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, may I say that I entirely support the noble Earl the Leader of the House. It is obvious that I have an ally on his side.
§ Leave to withdraw refused.