HC Deb 28 March 1923 vol 162 cc509-11
Mr. J. RAMSAY MacDONALD

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer state the business to be taken the week after we resume on the other side of the Easter holidays?

Mr. BALDWIN

On Monday, the Dangerous Drugs and Poisons Amendment Bill, Report and Third Reading; Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Bill, Second Reading; Special Constables Bill, Second Reading; and Army and Air Force (Annual) Bill, Second Reading.

Tuesday: Supply, Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on Civil Service Estimates— Class 1, Vote for Public Buildings will be on the Paper.

Wednesday: The Agriculture Debate.

Thursday: Supply, third allotted day—Board of Education Vote.

Mr. LANSBURY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Army and Air Force (Annual) Bill is not available, and is it not rather difficult to come back on Monday to discuss a Bill we have never seen? I have asked in the Vote Office every day for it.

Mr. BALDWIN

I am informed that the Bill will be circulated in a day or two at the latest.

Mr. LANSBURY

The House will not be sitting, and most Members, at least myself, will be on holiday. We ought not to be expected to come here on Monday, and discuss a Bill we have never seen.

Mr. HOGGE

Will the discussion on agriculture be on a Motion for the Adjournment from the Front Bench or on a Resolution?

Mr. BALDWIN

On a Motion for the Adjournment.

Mr. TREVELYAN

Is the Special Constables Bill circulated yet?

Mr. LANSBURY

What about the Army and Air Force (Annual) Bill?

Mr. BALDWIN

I should have thought that there would be much more time to study the Bill with comparative leisure when the House is not sitting.

Mr. LANSBURY

I quite agree that there is a humorous side about this subject, but there is another side to it. I particularly wish to discuss this Bill, and I am not certain that I shall be able to get the Bill where I am going. [HON. MEMBERS: "Where are you going? "] I may be going to quod again. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether it is in order that a Bill, the First Beading of which was taken at the end of last week, should not be available by now?

Mr. SPEAKER

There may be something in the hon. Member's point if the Bill has not been circulated long enough when the Second Reading is called. I would point out that it is on the Committee stage of this Bill, and not on the Second Reading, that discussion is taken. That has always been the case.

Mr. LANSBURY

Is it in order that a Bill should not be open for discussion on Second Reading, and that Members are not expected to raise questions during the Second Reading? Why have a Second Reading if we are not supposed to consider the Bill?

Mr. SPEAKER

If the hon. Member looks up the records, he will see that it has always been held by the Chair that in the case of this Bill the Committee stage is the effective stage. I do not say that there should be no Debate on the Second Reading, but there should be no detailed criticism.

Mr. MACPHERSON

Is not this the same Bill every year, and is it not a fact that discussion arises only when Amendments are put down?

Mr. LANSBURY

I respectfully protest against the doctrine that a Bill may be introduced into this House, and that an individual Member is not to have the right to discuss the principles of the Bill. Has not he the right to have an opportunity of looking at the Bill before it comes to the House for Second Reading?

Mr. SPEAKER

I will deal with that matter when it arises.

Mr. RILEY

If the discussion on agriculture takes place on the Wednesday after the Easter Recess, will the Report of the Committee be circulated before the discussion? It is important that the Report of the Committee should be available before the discussion.

Mr. BALDWIN

Will the hon. Member tell me to which Committee he refers?

Mr. RILEY

The Committee which was appointed as a result of our last discussion on the subject. The Minister of Agriculture knows the Committee quite well.

Mr. BALDWIN

I will see if that be possible.

Mr. PRINGLE

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the form of the Debate, so as to allow the House to come to a decision on some concrete issue regarding the Government's policy?

Mr. BALDWIN

I think we had better have a discussion on the Bill.

Resolved, "That this House do meet To-morrow at Eleven of the Clock."—[Mr. Baldwin.]