THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, to-day's business is unique in that your Lordships are being asked to give a Second Reading to a Bill to make further provision for Her Majesty's Civil List in the middle of what we all acknowledge to be a strikingly successful reign which all your Lordships hope will be a long and continued one. The Bill that we are discussing is a Money Bill in every sense of the term. I assume that, in accordance with precedent, your Lordships will wish me to deal with the subject with great brevity: such has been the custom of your Lordships' House for many years. The purpose of the Bill is to enable the Queen, and those members of the Royal Family who share the burden of her work, to continue to serve the nation in the way the nation expects. I am sure your Lordships support this objective. The Bill provides the machinery to do this in an appropriate manner. I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Earl Jellicoe.)
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, following precedent, I do not propose to discuss this Bill. No one in the House will disagree with the noble Earl's remarks about the successful nature of the services that are rendered by Her Majesty and the Royal Family. There are other views on the administration of these matters, but I certainly would not recommend anyone raising them in your Lordships' House.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a: Committee negatived.