§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINWould the Prime Minister tell us what are now his proposals for business in the present sitting, and, with reference to that, will he give us an opportunity for discussing the very important statement which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has just announced that he would make before the Session ended; and, further, what business it is proposed to take when the House resumes its sitting after Christmas?
§ The PRIME MINISTERPerhaps I might deal, first, with the middle question. I would advise the right hon. Gentleman to wait until he hears the statement before criticising it in the sense that it will require to be discussed in the House. When the statement is made, if the right hon. Gentleman cares to repeat his question, I shall gladly give him an answer. Regarding business—
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINMay I ask what opportunity the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes to use for making his statement?
Mr. SNOWDENThe right hon. Gentleman is really exaggerating the importance of the statement. He must wait and hear it. Probably the most convenient way will be to make my statement in answer to a question.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe right hon. Gentleman had a question put to him to-day with regard to the anxiety caused by a previous statement of his, 671 I think in November, that certain Duties would be repealed. To-day, he says that he is considering methods which will allay any anxiety if those Duties are repealed. Surely, the House must have some opportunity of discussing, and if necessary criticising, these suggestions which he proposes to make. I ask for that opportunity.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe whole point is that these suggestions will not come into operation until after the Budget. I should advise the right hon. Gentleman to wait until he sees what takes place. With regard to business, as a result of conversations up to now through the usual channels, the following is the programme of business up to Christmas which I am able to announce:
§ Monday: Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Bill, completion of further stages; Supplementary Estimates—the Ministry of Labour and Department of Health (Scotland); and the formal setting up of the Committee of Ways and Means will follow.
§ Tuesday: Coal Mines Bill, Second Reading; Reports of Supplementary Estimates taken on the 16th, and of Ways and Means Resolutions.
§ Wednesday: Consolidated Fund Bill, Second Beading, after Private Member's Motions have been disposed of.
§ Thursday: Coal Mines Bill, completion of Second Reading Debate, followed by the Consolidated Fund Bill further stages.
§ Friday: Report stage of Supplementary Estimate for the salary of the Lord Privy Seal.
§ Monday (23rd): Available for discussion of the Government Policy. I understand that the Opposition would like to, raise the questions of Egypt, and the Singapore base.
§ Tuesday (24th): The House will meet at 11 a.m. and the Motion for the Adjournment will be taken.
§ On any day, if time permits, other Orders will be taken. The House will resume on 21st January, and the programme for the first week will be:
§ Tuesday, 21st January: Arbitration (Foreign Awards) Bill, further stages. Committee of Supply—Supplementary 672 Estimates: (1) Ministry of Labour; (2) Sugar Beet Subsidy. These Supplementary Estimates providing the money required to implement the Unemployment Insurance Bill now before Parliament, and additional money for the Sugar Beet Subsidy, will it is hoped, be in the hands of Members before the Recess.
§ Thursday, 23rd January: Land Drainage (Scotland) Bill, Second Reading and Money Resolution; Report of Supplementary Estimates taken on the 21st. I repeat the usual safeguard, that on any day, if time permits, other Orders will be taken.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINObviously, I cannot discuss the programme of the right hon. Gentleman. He used a rather careful phrase in his opening observations, that, as a result of conversations, he was enabled to announce that this would be the programme. No one must suppose that it is an agreed programme. We think it is really an outrage on the House of Commons that, with regard to the Bill which is before us, discussion in a party caucus should be substituted for discussion on the Floor of the House, and that the right hon. Gentleman should propose to take £3,500,000 of Supplementary Estimates after Eleven o'clock. With regard to Monday, 23rd December, we desire to reserve our rights to raise whatever questions we like. May I ask the right hon. Gentleman what he proposes to do with Private Members' time on Friday?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is Friday of next week. Up to the present nothing has been put down, but we will safeguard ourselves between now and Friday.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINAccording to my information, the right hon. Gentleman is mistaken in saying that there is nothing put down. However that may be, can he tell us when he proposes to move the Motion to take Private Members' time?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNot yet.
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEArising out of the statement on business, will the statement that is to be made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer allay the uncertainty as to the fate of certain Duties after the next Budget?
§
Motion made, and Question put,
That other Government Business have precedence this day of the Business of
§ Supply, and 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, 273; Noes, 203.
677| Division No. 90.] | AYES. | [3.58 p.m. |
| Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (Fife, West) | Graham, Rt. Hon. Wm. (Edin., Cent.) | Mander, Geoffrey le M. |
| Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) | Granville, E. | Mansfield, W. |
| Aitchison, Rt. Hon. Craigie M. | Gray, Milner | Marcus, M. |
| Alpass, J. H. | Greenwood, Rt. Hon. A. (Colne) | Markham, S. F. |
| Angell, Norman | Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) | Marley, J. |
| Arnott, John | Griffiths, T. (Monmouth, Pontypool) | Mathers, George |
| Attlee, Clement Richard | Groves, Thomas E. | Matters, L. W. |
| Ayles, Walter | Grundy, Thomas W. | Maxton, James |
| Baker, John (Wolverhampton, Bilston) | Hall, F. (York, W.R., Normanton) | Messer, Fred |
| Baldwin, Oliver (Dudley) | Hall, G. H. (Merthyr Tydvil) | Middleton, G. |
| Barnes, Alfred John | Hall, Capt. W. P. (Portsmouth, C.) | Milner. J. |
| Barr, James | Hamilton, Sir R. (Orkney & Zetland) | Morgan, Dr. H. B. |
| Batey, Joseph | Harbison, T. J. | Morris-Jones, Dr. J. H. (Denbigh) |
| Beckett, John (Camberwell, Peckham) | Hardie, George D. | Morrison, Herbert (Hackney, South) |
| Bellamy, Albert | Harris, Percy A. | Morrison, Robert C. (Tottenham, N.) |
| Benn, Rt. Hon. Wedgwood | Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon | Mort, D. L. |
| Bennett, Capt. E. N. (Cardiff, Central) | Hastings, Dr. Somerville | Moses, J. J. H. |
| Bennett, William (Battersea, South) | Haycock, A. W. | Muff, G. |
| Benson, G. | Hayday, Arthur | Muggeridge, H. T. |
| Bentham, Dr. Ethel | Henderson, Right Hon. A. (Burnley) | Murnin, Hugh |
| Bevan, Aneurin (Ebbw Vale) | Henderson, W. W. (Middx., Enfield) | Nathan, Major H. L. |
| Bondfield, Rt. Hon. Margaret | Harriotts, J. | Oldfield, J. R. |
| Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. | Hirst, G. H. (York W. R. Wentworth) | Oliver, George Harold (Ilkeston) |
| Brockway, A. Fenner | Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) | Oliver, P. M. (Man., Blackley) |
| Bromfield, William | Hoffman, P. C. | Owen, Major G. (Carnarvon) |
| Brooke, W. | Hollins, A. | Palin, John Henry |
| Brothers, M. | Hore-Belisha, Leslie. | Paling, Wilfrid |
| Brown, Ernest (Leith) | Hudson, James H. (Huddersfield) | Palmer, E. T. |
| Brown, James (Ayr and Bute) | Hunter, Dr. Joseph | Parkinson, John Allen (Wigan) |
| Brown, W. J. (Wolverhampton, West) | Hutchison. Maj.-Gen. Sir R. | Perry, S. F. |
| Buchanan, G. | Isaacs. George | Peters, Dr. Sidney John |
| Burgess, F. G. | Jenkins. W. (Glamorgan, Neath) | Pethick-Lawrence, F. W. |
| Buxton, C. R. (Yorks, W. R. Elland) | John, William (Rhondda, West) | Picton-Turbervill, Edith |
| Buxton, Rt. Hon. Noel (Norfolk, N.) | Jones, F. Llewellyn (Flint) | Pole, Major D. G. |
| Calne, Derwent Hall. | Jones, Rt. Hon. Leif (Camborne) | Ponsonby, Arthur |
| Cameron, A. G. | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) | Potts, John S. |
| Cape, Thomas | Jones, T. I. Mardy (Pontypridd) | Price, M. P. |
| Carter, W. (St. Pancras, S.W.) | Jowett, Rt. Hon. F. W. | Quibell, D. J. K. |
| Charleton, H. C. | Jowitt, Rt. Hon. Sir W. A. | Ramsay, T. B. Wilson |
| Cluse, W. S. | Kedward, R. M. (Kent, Ashlord) | Rathbone, Eleanor |
| Clynes, Rt. Hon. John R. | Kennedy, Thomas | Raynes, W. R. |
| Cocks, Frederick Seymour | Kinley, J. | Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring) |
| Compton, Joseph | Kirkwood, D | Riley, Ben (Dewsbury) |
| Cove, William G. | Knight, Holford | Ritson, J. |
| Daggar, George | Lang, Gordon | Roberts, Rt. Hon. F. O. (W. Bromwich) |
| Dallas, George | Lathan, G. | Romerll, H. G. |
| Dalton, Hugh | Law, Albert (Bolton) | Rosbotham, D. S. T. |
| Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) | Law, A. (Rosendale) | Rowson, Guy |
| Day, Harry | Lawrence, Susan | Runciman, Rt. Hon. Walter |
| Denman, Hon. R. D. | Lawrie, Hugh Hartley (Stalybridge) | Salter, Dr. Alfred |
| Devlin, Joseph | Lawson, John James | Samuel, Rt. Hon. Sir H. (Darwen) |
| Dickson, T. | Lawther. W. (Barnard Castle) | Samuel, H. W. (Swansea, West) |
| Dudgeon, Major C. R. | Leach, W. | Sanders, W. S. |
| Dukes, C. | Lee. Frank (Derby, N.E.) | Sandham, E. |
| Duncan, Charles | Lee, Jennie (Lanark, Northern) | Sawyer, G. F. |
| Ede, James Chuter | Lees, J. | Scott, James |
| Edge, Sir William | Lewis, T. (Southampton) | Scrymgeour, E. |
| Edmunds, J. E. | Lindley, Fred W. | Scurr, John |
| Edwards, C. (Monmouth, Bedwellty) | Lloyd, C. Ellis | Sexton, James |
| Egan, W. H. | Longbottom, A. W. | Shaw, Rt. Hon. Thomas (Preston) |
| Eimley, Viscount | Longden, F. | Shepherd, Arthur Lewis |
| Foot, Isaac | Lovat-Fraser, J. A. | Sherwood, G. H. |
| Forgan, Dr. Robert | Lowth, Thomas | Shield, George William |
| Freeman, Peter | Lunn, William | Shiels, Dr. Drummond |
| Gardner, B. W. (West Ham, Upton) | Macdonald, Gordon (Ince) | Shillaker, J. F. |
| George, Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd (Car'vn) | MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R. (Seaham) | Shinwell. E. |
| George, Major G. Lloyd (Pembroke) | McElwee, A. | Short, Alfred (Wednesbury) |
| George, Megan Lloyd (Atiglesea) | McEntee, V. L. | Simmons, C. J. |
| Gibbins, Joseph | Mackinder, W. | Simon, E. D. (Manch'ter, Withington) |
| Gill, T. H. | McKinlay, A. | Sinclair, Sir A. (Caithness) |
| Glassey, A. E. | MacNeill-Weir, L. | Sinkinson, George |
| Gosling, Harry | Macpherson, Rt. Hon. James I. | Smith, Alfred (Sunderland) |
| Gossling, A. G. | McShane, John James | Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe) |
| Gould, F. | Malone, C. L'Estrange (N'thampton) | Smith, Frank (Nuneaton) |
| Smith, H. B. Lees (Keighley) | Tinker, John Joseph | Welsh, James C. (Coatbridge) |
| Smith, Rennie (Penistone) | Toole, Joseph | West, F. R. |
| Smith, Tom (Pontefract) | Tout, W. J. | Wheatley, Rt. Han. J. |
| Snowden, Rt. Hon. Philip | Townend, A. E. | Whiteley, Wilfrid (Birm., Ladywood) |
| Snowden, Thomas (Accrington) | Trevelyan, Rt. Hon. Sir Charles | Whiteley, William (Blaydon) |
| Sorensen, R. | Turner, B. | Wilkinson, Ellen C. |
| Spero, Or. G. E. | Vaughan, D. J. | Williams, David (Swansea, East) |
| Stamford, Thomas W. | Viant, S. P. | Williams, T. (York, Don Valley) |
| Stephen, Campbell | Walker, J. | Wilson, C. H. (Sheffield. Attercliffe) |
| Stewart, J. (St. Rollox) | Wallace, H. W. | Wilson. R. J. Narrow) |
| Strachey, E. J. St. Loe | Wallhead, Richard C. | Winterton. G. E. (Leicester, Loughb'gh) |
| Strauss, G. R. | Walters, Rt. Hon. Sir J. Tudor | Wise, E. F. |
| Sullivan, J. | Watkins, F. C. | Wood, Major McKenzie (Banff) |
| Sutton, J. E. | Watson, W. M. (Dunfermline). | Wright, W. (Ruthergien) |
| Taylor, W. B. (Norfolk, S.W.) | Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. D. (Rhondda) | Young, R. S. (Islington, North) |
| Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Derby) | Wedgwood, Rt. Hon. Josiah | |
| Thurtle, Ernest | Wellock, Wilfred | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Tillett, Ben | Welsh, James (Paisley) | Mr. Hayes and Mr. T. Henderson. |
| NOES. | ||
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Elliot, Major Walter E. | Mitchell-Thomson, Rt. Hon. Sir W. |
| Alnsworth, Lieut.-Col. Charles | Erskine, Lord (Somerset, Weston-s. M.) | Mond, Hon. Henry |
| Albery, Irving James | Everard, W. Lindsay | Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. Sir B. |
| Alexander, Sir Wm. (Glasgow, Cent'I) | Falle, Sir Bertram G. | Moore, Sir Newton J. (Richmond) |
| Allen, Sir J. Sandeman (Liverp'I., W.) | Ferguson, Sir John | Moore, Lieut.-Colonel T. C. R. (Ayr) |
| Allen, W. E. D. (Belfast, W.) | Fielden, E. B. | Morrison, Hugh (Wilts, Salisbury) |
| Amery, Rt. Hon. Leopold C. M. S. | Fison, F. G. Clavering | Morrison, W. S. (Glos., Cirencester) |
| Astor, Maj. Hn. John J. (Kent, Dover) | Fremantle, Lieut. Colonel Francis E | Morrison-Bell, Sir Arthur Clive |
| Atholl, Duchess of | Galbralth, J. F. W. | Muirhead, A. J. |
| Baillie-Hamilton, Hon. Charles W. | Ganzonl, Sir John | Newton, Sir D. G. C. (Cambridge) |
| Balniel, Lord | Gault, Lieut.-Col. Andrew Hamilton | Nicholson, O. (Westminster) |
| Beamish, Rear-Admiral T. P. H. | Gibson, C. G. (Pudsey & Otley) | Nicholson, Col. Rt. Hn. W. G. (Ptrsf'Id) |
| Beaumont, M, W. | Glyn, Major R. G. C. | Nield, Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert |
| Berry, Sir George | Gower, Sir Robert | Oman, Sir Charles William C. |
| Bevan, S. J. (Holborn) | Grace, John | O'Neill, Sir H. |
| Bird, Ernest Roy | Graham, Fergus (Cumberland, N.) | Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. William |
| Bourne, Captain Robert Croft | Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. | Peake, Capt. Osbert |
| Bowater, Col. Sir T. Vansittart | Greene, W. P. Crawford | Penny, Sir George |
| Bowyer, Captain Sir George E. W. | Grenfell, Edward C. (City of London) | Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings) |
| Boyce, H. L. | Gretton, Colonel Rt. Hon. John | Peto, Sir Basil E. (Devon, Barnstaple) |
| Bracken, B. | Gunston, Captain D. W. | Pilditch, Sir Philip |
| Brass, Captain Sir William | Hacking, Rt. Hon. Douglas H. | Power, Sir John Cecil |
| Briscoe, Richard George | Hall, Lieut.-Col. Sir F. (Duiwich) | Pownall, Sir Assheton |
| Brown, Col. D. C. (N'th'I'd'., Hexham) | Hamilton, Sir George (llford) | Purbrick, R. |
| Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Berks, Newb'y) | Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry | Ramsbotham, H. |
| Buchan, John | Hartington, Marquess of | Rawson, Sir Cooper |
| Buckingham, Sir H. | Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) | Reid, David D. (County Down) |
| Bullock, Captain Malcolm | Haslam, Henry C. | Remer, John R. |
| Burton, Colonel H. W. | Henderson, Capt. R. R. (Oxf'd, Henley) | Rentoul, Sir Gervais S. |
| Butler, R. A. | Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur P. | Roberts, Sir Samuel (Ecciesall) |
| Cadogan, Major Hon. Edward | Herbert, Sir Dennis (Hertford) | Rodd, Rt. Hon. Sir James Rennell |
| Carver, Major W. H. | Herbert, S. (York, N. R. Scar. & Wh'by) | Ross, Major Ronald D. |
| Castle Stewart, Earl of | Hills, Major Rt. Hon. John Waller | Ruggies-Brise, Lieut.-Colonel E. A. |
| Cautley, Sir Henry S. | Hoare, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir S. J. G. | Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) |
| Cayzer, Maj. Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth, S.) | Hope, Sir Harry (Forfar) | Salmon, Major I. |
| Cazalet, Captain Victor A. | Home, Rt. Hon. Sir Robert S. | Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) |
| Chadwick, Sir Robert Burton | Howard-Bury, Colonel C. K. | Sandeman, Sir N. Stewart |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. Sir J. A. (Birm., W.) | Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney. N.) | Sassoon, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip A. G. D. |
| Chapman, Sir S. | Hurd, Percy A. | Savery, S S. |
| Christie, J. A. | Hurst, Sir Gerald B. | Shepperson, Sir Ernest Whittome |
| Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston Spencer | Iveagh, Countess of | Skelton, A. N. |
| Cockerill, Brig.-General Sir George | James, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. Cuthbert | Smith, Louis W. (Sheffield. Hallam) |
| Cohen, Major J. Brunei | Kindersley, Major G. M. | Smith, R. W. (Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.) |
| Colfox, Major William Philip | King, Commodore Rt. Hon. Henry D. | Smith-Carington, Neville W. |
| Colman, N. C. D. | Knox, Sir Alfred | Smithers, Waldron |
| Colville, Major D. J. | Lamb, Sir J. Q. | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) |
| Conway, Sir W. Martin | Lane Fox, Col. Rt. Hon. George R. | Somerville, D. G. (Willesden, East) |
| Courtauld, Major J. S. | Leigh, Sir John (Clapham) | Southby, Commander A. R. J. |
| Courthope, Colonel Sir G. L. | Leighton, Major B. E. P. | Spender-Clay, Colonel H. |
| Cranbourne, Viscount | Lewis, Oswald (Colchester) | Stanley, Maj. Hon. O. (W'morland) |
| Crichton-Stuart, Lord C. | Liewellin, Major J. J. | Steel-Maitland, Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur |
| Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. | Locker-Lampson, Com. O. (Handsw'th) | Stewart, W. J. (Belfast South) |
| Crookshank, Capt. H. C. | Long, Major Eric | Stuart, J. C. (Moray and Nairn) |
| Culverwell, C. T. (Bristol, West) | Lymington, Viscount | Sueter, Rear-Admiral M. F. |
| Cunliffe-Lister, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip | Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) | Thomas, Major L. B. (King's Norton) |
| Dalkeith, Earl of | Macquisten, F. A. | Tinne, J. A. |
| Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) | MacRobert, Rt. Hon. Alexander M. | Titchfield, Major the Marquess of |
| Davison, Sir W. H. (Kensington, S.) | Maitland, A. (Kent, Faversham) | Train, J. |
| Dixey, A. C. | Makins, Brigadier-General E. | Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement |
| Duckworth, G. A. V. | Marjoribanks, E. C. | Turton, Robert Hugh |
| Dugdale, Capt. T. L. | Mason, Colonel Glyn K. | Vaughan-Morgan, Sir Kenyon |
| Eden, Captain Anthony | Meller, R. J. | Wallace, Capt. D. E. (Hornsey) |
| Edmondson, Major A. J. | Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham) | Ward, Lieut.-Col. Sir A. Lambert |
| Wardlaw-Milne, J. S. | Windsor-Cilve, Lieut.-Colonel George | Worthington-Evans, Rt. Hon. Sir L. |
| Warrender, Sir Victor | Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl | Young, Rt. Hon. Sir Hilton |
| Water-house, Captain Charles | Withers, Sir John James | |
| Wells, Sydney R. | Wolmer, Rt. Hon. Viscount | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay) | Womersley, W. J. | Major Sir George Hennessy and |
| Wilson, G. H. A. (Cambridge U.) | Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley | Captain Margesson. |