§ Viscount CURZON(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that there is a Private Bill set down for discussion to-night at 8.15 that will probably continue till 11 o'clock, and will therefore seriously curtail the discussion on the Motion to get Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on the Navy Estimates, and whether, in these circumstances, it will be possible for him to give further time for discussion of the Navy Votes in Committee?
§ Commander BELLAIRSMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has not departed from the customary procedure of this House before the War by which we had the whole day for the discussion on the Motion to get Mr. Speaker out of the Chair? It was the invariable practice before the War.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the question will show that we are not departing from, the custom. I am aware of the circumstances, as stated by the Noble Lord. The House will realise that the setting down of Private Bills for discussion at 8.15 is a matter for the Chairman of Ways and Means and does not rest with the Government. I hope very much that the House will be able to give us the Committee stage of the Votes on the Paper at not too late an hour to-night, and, while it is not possible for me definitely to promise to give further time before Easter in view of the fact that the Consolidated Fund Bill must he taken before Monday week, I hope that, by arrangement, the Navy Votes may be taken on an early Supply Day after the reassembling of the House.
§ Commander BELLAIRSThe Prime Minister has not dealt with the customary procedure. In 1910–1911 and 1912 we had a whole day for the discussion of the Motion to get Mr. Speaker out of the Chair. The only departure was in 1913 when the House assembled for the Session on 12th March. Can the right hon. Gentleman do something to help us in the situation?
§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEIs the Prime Minister aware that there can be no other day for a general discussion or The discussion of Vote A, because the other discussions must take place on other Votes?
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs not the only remedy of hon. Gentlemen to vote against the Motion for the suspension of the 11 o'clock Rule?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that I can add anything to the reply which I have given. My hon. and gallant Friend has himself shown that the Rule is not an absolute one.
Mr. MacDONALDMay I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury when we shall be able to get the Army Estimates in the Vote Office?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Colonel Leslie Wilson)They are in the Vote Office now.
§ Mr. PRINGLEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether anything else besides the Navy Estimates is to be taken to-night under the suspension of the 11 o'clock Rule?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo.
§ Commander BELLAIRSMay I ask you, Sir, whether we shall be allowed to carry on the policy discussion on Vote I on Report, and whether we can circumscribe the discussion by discussing the Air question wholly on the Air Vote; and may I ask the Prime Minister whether he will give us the Vote for the Committee of Defence at a, later date, so that we can discuss the question of a Ministry of Defence which several Members wish to raise?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf it be the desire of the House, I shall be willing to do that in the circumstances, if the Votes be passed to-night in a short space of time. I recollect that it was done on a previous occasion, when wider scope was given on the Report stage. I think that will be a proper thing to do.
With regard to the other question raised by the hon. and gallant Member, T observe that the first two notices on the Paper for going into Committee of Supply on the Air Estimates raise that question, and it would seem more appropriate to take that kind of discussion on Wednesday.
Captain BENNMay we be assured that the First Lord of the Admiralty will be present on Wednesday to answer for what has been done by his Department?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODAnd will the Secretary of State for the Air Ministry be here to answer questions for his Department?
§ Motion made, and Question put,
§
That the Proceedings on Government Business be exempted at this day's Sitting from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—{The Prime Minister.]
§ The House divided: Ayes, 235; Noes, 136.
1051| Division No. 32.] | AYES. | [4.7 p.m. |
| Agg-Gardner, Sir James Tynte | Archer-Shee, Lieut.-Colonel Martin | Banbury, Rt. Hon. Sir Frederick G. |
| Alexander, E. E. (Leyton, East) | Ashley, Lt.-Col. Wilfrid W. | Barlow, Rt. Hon. Sir Montague |
| Allen, Lieut.-Col. Sir William James | Baird Rt. Hon. Sir John Lawrence | Barnett, Major Richard W. |
| Amery, Ht. Hon. Leopold C. M. S. | Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Barnston, Major Harry |
| Apsley, Lord | Balfour, George (Hampstead) | Bell, Lieut.-Col. W. C. H. (Devizes) |
| Bellairs, Commander Carlyon W. | Hamilton, Sir George C. (Altrincham) | Ormsby-Gore, Hon. William |
| Benn, Sir A. S. (Plymouth, Drake) | Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry | Parker, Owen (Kettering) |
| Bennett, Sir T. J. (Sevenoaks) | Harrison, F. C. | Pease, William Edwin |
| Betterton, Henry B. | Harvey, Major S. E. | Pennefather, De Fonblanque |
| Birchall, Major J. Dearman | Hawke, John Anthony | Penny, Frederick George |
| Blades, Sir George Rowland | Hay, Major T. W. (Norfolk, South) | Perkins, Colonel E. K. |
| Blundell, F. N | Henderson, Sir T. (Roxburgh) | Peto, Basil E. |
| Bowyer, Capt. G. E. W. | Herbert, Col. Hon. A. (Yeovil) | Pielou, D. P. |
| Boyd-Carpenter, Major A. | Herbert, S. (Scarborough) | Pownall, Lieut. Colonel Assheton |
| Brass, Captain W. | Hewett. Sir J. P. | Privett, F. J. |
| Brittain, Sir Harry | Hiley, Sir Ernest | Rawson, Lieut.-Com. A. C. |
| Brown, Major D. C. (Hexham) | Hoare, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir S. J. G. | Reid, Capt. A. S. C. (Warrington) |
| Brown, Brig.-Gen. Clifton (Nawbury) | Hogg, Rt. Hon. Sir D. (St. Marylebone) | Reid, D. D. (County Down) |
| Bruford, R. | Hohler, Gerald Fitzroy | Remer, J. R. |
| Bruton, Sir James | Holbrook, Sir Arthur Richard | Remnant, Sir James |
| Buckingham, Sir H. | Hood, Sir Joseph | Rentoul, G. S. |
| Buckley, Lieut.-Colonel A. | Hopkins, John W. W. | Reynolds, W. G. W. |
| Burn, Colonel Sir Charles Rosdew | Hopkinson, A. (Lancaster, Mossley) | Richardson, Sir Alex. (Gravesend) |
| Burney, Com- (Middx., Uxbridge) | Howard, Capt. D. (Cumberland, N.) | Richardson, Lt.-Col. Sir P. (Chertsey) |
| Butcher, Sir John George | Howard-Bury, Lieut.-Col. C. K. | Roberts, Samuel (Hereford, Hereford) |
| Butler, H. M. (Leeds, North) | Hudson, Capt. A. | Roberts, Rt. Hon. sir S. (Ecclesall) |
| Butt, Sir Alfred | Hughes, Collingwood | Robertson, J. D. (Islington, W.) |
| Button, H. S. | Hurd, Percy A. | Robinson, Sir T. (Lancs, Stretford) |
| Cadogan, Major Edward | Hutchison, G. A. C. (Midlothian, N.) | Rogerson, Capt. J. E. |
| Campion, Lieut. -Colonel W. R. | Hutchison, W. (Kelvingrove) | Roundell, Colonel R. F. |
| Cautley, Henry Strother | Inskip, Sir Thomas Walker H. | Ruggles-Brise, Major E. |
| Cayzer, Sir C. (Chester, City) | Jackson, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. F. S. | Russell, William (Bolton) |
| Cecil, Rt. Hon. Sir Evelyn (Aston) | James, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. Cuthbert | Russell-Wells, Sir Sydney |
| Cecil, Rt. Hon. Lord H. (Ox. Univ.) | Jarrett, G. W. S. | Sanders, Rt. Hon. Sir Robert A. |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Ladywood) | Jephcott, A. R. | Sandon, Lord |
| Chapman, Sir S. | Jodrell, Sir Neville Paul | Shepperson, E. W. |
| Churchman, Sir Arthur | Kelley, Major Fred (Rotherham) | Shipwright, Captain D. |
| Clarry, Reginald George | King, Captain Henry Douglas | Simms, Dr. John M. (Co. Down) |
| Clayton, G. C. | Kinloch-Cooke, Sir Clement | Singleton, J. E. |
| Coates, Lt.-Cot. Norman | Lamb, J. Q. | Skelton, A. N. |
| Cobb. Sir Cyril | Lane-Fox, Lieut. Colonel G. R. | Smith, Sir Allan M. (Croydon, South) |
| Collie, Sir John | Law, Rt. Hon. A. B. (Glasgow, C.) | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) |
| Colvin, Brig-General Richard Beale | Leigh, Sir John (Clapham) | Somerville, Daniel (Barrow-in-Furness) |
| Craig, Captain C. C. (Antrim, South) | Lloyd-Greame, Rt. Hon. Sir P. | Sparkes, H. W. |
| Craik, Rt. Hon. Sir Henry | Locker-Lampson, G. (Wood Green) | Spears, Brig.-Gen. E. L. |
| Croft, Lieut.-Colonel Henry Page | Locker-Lampson, Com. O. (Handsw'th) | Spender-Clay, Lieut.-Colonel H. H. |
| Crook, C. W. (East Ham, North) | Lorimer, H. D. | Stanley, Lord |
| Curzon, Captain Viscount | Lowe, Sir Francis William | Steel, Major S. Strang |
| Davidson, J. C. C.(Hemel Hempstead) | Loyd, Arthur Thomas (Abingdon) | Stewart, Gershom (Wirral) |
| Davison, Sir W. H. (Kensington, S.) | Lumley, L. R. | Stott, Lt.-Col. W. H. |
| Dawson, Sir Philip | Macdonald, Sir Murdoch (Inverness) | Stuart, Lord C. Crichton- |
| Dixon, C. H. (Rutland) | Macnaghten, Hon. Sir Malcolm | Sueter, Rear-Admiral Murray Fraser |
| Doyle, N. Grattan | Macnamara, Rt. Hon. Dr. T. J. | Sykes, Major-Gen. Sir Frederick H. |
| Du Pre, Colonel William Baring | McNeill, Ronald (Kent, Canterbury) | Terrell, Captain R. (Oxford, Henley) |
| Edmondson, Major A. J. | Macpherson, Rt. Hon. James I | Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South) |
| Ednam, Viscount | Malone, Major P. B. (Tottenham, S.) | Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement |
| Elliot, Capt. Walter E. (Lanark) | Manviile, Edward | Tubbs, S. W. |
| Erskine, James Malcolm Monteith | Margesson, H. D. R. | Vaughan-Morgan, Col. K. P. |
| Erskine-Boist, Captain C. | Mercer. Colonel H. | Wallace, Captain E. |
| Eyres Monsell, Com. Bolton M. | Milne, J. S. Wardlaw | Ward, Col. L. (Kingston-upon-Hull) |
| Faile, Major Sir Bertram Godfray | Mitchell, W F. (Saffron Walden) | Waring, Major Walter |
| Fermor-Hesketh, Major T. | Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham) | Warner, Sir T. Courtenay T. |
| Fisher, Rt. Hon. Herbert A. L. | Molloy, Major L. G. S. | Wells. S. R. |
| Foreman, Sir Henry | Molson, Major John Elsdale | White, Lt.-Col. G. D. (Southport) |
| Foxcroft, Captain Charles Talbot | Moore, Major-General Sir Newton J. | Whitla, Sir William |
| Fraser, Major Sir Keith | Moore-Brabazon, Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. | Wilson, Col. M. J. (Richmond) |
| Frece, Sir Walter de | Morden, Col. W. Grant | Winterton, Eart |
| Fremantle, Lieut.-Colonel Francis E. | Moreing, Captain Algernon H. | Wise, Frederick |
| Furness, G. J. | Morrison, Hugh (Wilts, Salisbury) | Wolmer, Viscount |
| Ganzonl, Sir John | Morrison-Bell, Major A. C. (Honiton) | Wood, Rt. Hon. Edward F. L. (Ripon) |
| Gaunt, Rear-Admiral Sir Guy R. | Murchison, C. K. | Wood, Sir H. K. (Woolwich, West) |
| Goff, Sir R. Park | Murray, John (Leeds, West) | Worthington-Evans, Rt. Hon. Sir L. |
| Greaves-Lord, Walter | Nesbitt, Robert C. | Yate, Colonel Sir Charles Edward |
| Guinness, Lieut.-Col. Hon. W. E. | Newman, Sir R. H. S. D. L. (Exeter) | Yerburgh. R. D. T. |
| Guthrie, Thomas Maule | Newson, Sir Percy Wilson | Young, Rt. Hon. E. H. (Norwich) |
| Gwynne, Rupert S. | Newton, Sir D. G. C. (Cambridge) | |
| Hacking, Captain Douglas H. | Nicholson, Brig.-Gen. J.(Westminster) | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Hall, Lieut. Col. Sir F. (Dulwich) | Nicholson, William G. (Petersfield) | Colonel Leslie Wilson and Colonel |
| Hall, Rr-Adml Sir W.(Liv'p'l,W.D'by) | Nield, Sir Herbert | Gibbs. |
| Halstead, Major D. | Norton-Griffiths, Lieut.-Col. Sir John | |
| NOES. | ||
| Adams, D. | Barnes, A. | Briant, Frank |
| Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) | Batey, Joseph | Broad, F. A. |
| Alexander, A. V. (Sheffield, Hillsbro') | Benn, Captain Wedgwood (Leith) | Buchanan, G. |
| Ammon, Charles George | Bennett, A. J. (Mansfield) | Buckle, J. |
| Attlee, C. R. | Berkeley, Captain Reginald | Burgess, S. |
| Barker, G. (Monmouth, Abertillery) | Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. | Burnie, Major J. (Bootle) |
| Buxton, Charles (Accrington) | Jenkins, W. (Glamorgan, Neath) | Richards, R. |
| Buxton, Noel (Norfolk, North) | John, William (Rhondda, West) | Richardson, R. (Houghton-le Spring) |
| Chapple, W. A. | Johnston, Thomas (Stirling) | Roberts, C. H. (Derby) |
| Charleton, H. C. | Johnstone, Harcourt (Willesden, East) | Roberts, Frederick O. (W. Bromwich) |
| Clarke, Sir E. C. | Jones, J. J. (West Ham, Silvertown) | Rose, Frank H. |
| Collins, Sir Godfrey (Greenock) | Jones. Morgan (Caerphilly) | Royce, William Stapleton |
| Cowan, D. M. (Scottish Universities) | Jones, T. I. Mardy (Pontypridd) | Saklatvala, S. |
| Darbishire, C. W. | Jowett, F. W. (Bradford, East) | Salter, Dr. A. |
| Davies, Evan (Ebbw Vale) | Kirkwood, D. | Sexton, James |
| Dudgeon, Major C. R. | Lambert, Rt. Hon. George | Shaw, Hon. Alex. (Kilmarnock) |
| Duncan, C. | Lansbury, George | Shaw, Thomas (Preston) |
| Dunnico, H. | Leach, W. | Short, Alfred (Wednesbury) |
| Ede, James Chuter | Lee, F. | Simon, Rt. Hon. Sir John |
| Edmonds, G. | Lees-Smith, H. B. (Keighley) | Simpson, J. Hope |
| Edwards, C. (Monmouth, Bedwellty) | Lewis, Thomas A. | Sinclair, Sir A. |
| Fairbairn, R. R. | Linfield, F. C. | Smith, T. (Pontefract) |
| Falconer, J. | Lowth, T. | Snell, Harry |
| George, Major G. L. (Pembroke) | MacDonald, J. R. (Aberavon) | Stewart, J. (St. Rollox) |
| Gosling, Harry | M'Entee, V. L. | Thomson, T. (Middlesbrough, West) |
| Graham, W. (Edinburgh, Central) | McLaren, Andrew | Thorne, G. R. (Wolverhampton, E.) |
| Gray, Frank (Oxford) | March, S. | Thornton, M. |
| Greenall, T. | Marshall, Sir Arthur H. | Tillett, Benjamin |
| Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) | Martin, F. (Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, E.) | Trevelyan, C. P. |
| Griffiths, T. (Monmouth, Pontypool) | Maxton, James | Wallhead, Richard C. |
| Groves, T. | Millar, J. D. | Watson, W. M. (Dunfermline) |
| Hall, P. (York, W.R., Normanton) | Morel, E. D. | Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. D. (Rhondda) |
| Hamilton, Sir R. (Orkney & Shetland) | Morrison, R. C. (Tottenham, N.) | Webb, Sidney |
| Harbord, Arthur | Mosley, Oswald | Wedgwood, Colonel Joslah C. |
| Harris. Percy A. | Murray, R. (Renfrew, Western) | Weir, L. M. |
| Hay, Captain J. P. (Cathcart) | Newbold, J. T. W. | White, H. G. (Birkenhead, E.) |
| Hayday, Arthur | Nlchol, Robert | Whiteley, W. |
| Hayes, John Henry (Edge Hill) | O'Connor, Thomas P. | Williams, David (Swansea, E.) |
| Henderson, Rt. Hon. A. (N'castle, E.) | O'Grady, Captain James | Williams, T (York. Don Valley) |
| Henderson, T. (Glasgow) | Paling, W. | Wilson, C. H. (Sheffield, Attercliffe) |
| Hillary, A. E. | Parkinson, John Allen (Wigan) | Wintringham, Margaret |
| Hirst, G. H. | Parry, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Henry | Wood, Major M. M. (Aberdeen, C.) |
| Hodge. Rt. Hon. John | Phillipps, Vivian | Wright, W. |
| Hogge, James Myles | Ponsonby, Arthur | Young, Robert (Lancaster, Newton) |
| Hutchison, Sir R. (Kirkcaldy) | Potts, John S. | |
| Irving, Dan | Prlngle, W. M. R. | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Mr. Neil Maclean and Mr. Lunn. |