§ 3.33 p.m.
§ THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)My Lords, as several noble Lords have informed me that they wish to speak on the Second Reading of the North Wales Hydro-Electric Power Bill I shall postpone my Motion for the Second Reading and the subsequent Motion until the end of business to-day. I regret the inconvenience that this is bound to cause to some noble Lords who intend to speak on Second Reading.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, I really protest about this. This matter has been on the Order Paper throughout the week right up to this moment. I have come here this afternoon to speak early on in the afternoon, and have entered into engagements to-night which obviously prevent my being here as late as this business is now likely to come on. I suggest that it is quite out of order suddenly, at the very last moment, to take a decision of this kind.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, perhaps I may be allowed to give the noble Lord a fuller explanation. I received the information that noble Lords wished to speak only this morning and it was therefore impossible for me to place on the Order Paper the position of the Bill at the end of business. I can also tell the noble Lord that he is not the only sufferer as I had a dinner engagement which I have had to cancel. But I think the majority of the noble Lords who told me they wished to speak on the Second Reading have agreed to speak at the end of business to-day. It is usually for the convenience of the House to proceed from Questions to the public business, instead of having a long intervention in the form of a debate on a Private Bill.