37.
asked the Lord Privy Seal whether it is intended that there should be an autumn: Session this year?
I should be glad to avoid an Autumn Session if possible, but it would seem almost inevitable that an Autumn Session should be held, for the consideration of legislation in regard to Ireland.
If in any event we have got to have an Autumn Session, will the Lord Privy Seal do his utmost to close down the present Session at the end of July?
I think it is clearly in the general interests of the House that if, as I fear is inevitable, we should have an Autumn Session, we should close the present Session as rapidly as possible, but that is a matter in which the Government are powerless without the co-operation of the House. I can only hope that the House will give us that co-operation, because we have no great contentious Measures before the House at the present time. They are businesslike Measures, which I hope may meet with general assent.
Is there to be a General Election after the Autumn Session?