HC Deb 09 February 1932 vol 261 cc672-7
Mr. LANSBURY

May I ask what will be the order of business for Thursday, and what will be the business on Friday? Perhaps it will be convenient for me to ask another question relating to business of which I have given Private Notice, and that is whether, in view of the figures just published showing a very serious increase in the number of unemployed persons, the right hon. Gentleman will give the House an early opportunity of discussing the whole question of the treatment of the unemployed.

Mr. BALDWIN

I will take the second question first. No notice of that question reached me except on the bench here. However that is quite all right. I am afraid it is impossible at present to promise any time for a discussion on unemployment until we have got through some of the urgent business on which the House is engaged.

With regard to business, the Leader of the Opposition wishes to know the order in which the Supplementary Estimates will be considered on Thursday, and I will give him the order:

  • Civil Service Commission.
  • The Mint.
  • Rates on Government Property.
  • Stationery and Printing.
  • Inland Revenue.
  • Diplomatic and Consular Services.
  • Supreme Court of Judicature etc. Northern Ireland.
  • Mercantile Marine Services.
  • Colonial and Middle Eastern Services.
It is also proposed to take the Motion for an Address relating to the appointment of a Judge in the High Court of Justice (King's Bench Division).

On Friday the Second Reading of the Children and Young Persons Bill and Committee stage of the necessary Money Resolution will be taken.

If there is time on any day other orders will be taken.

Mr. LANSBURY

If I put another question to the right hon. Gentleman on Thursday with regard to a debate on unemployment, will he consider the matter, seeing that this great increase does mean that very intensified suffering will have to be endured by a very large number of people?

Mr. BALDWIN

I recognise that, but the right hon. Gentleman is aware how great the fluctuations always are at this period of the year. Although I am always willing to answer his questions, he knows as well as I do the state of business in this House from now until Easter. I would remind him that this is only the sixth day of our Parliamentary Session, and he has already had one, which is a very liberal allowance.

Mr. LANSBURY

I do not intend to pursue this matter, because I can ask another question on Thursday, but I would remind the right hon. Gentleman that this is a colossal increase. We are told in the Press that it is larger than at any other period since the figures were available. May I remind the right hon. Gentleman, also, that nearly every week we had a Motion of Censure on the last Government for its handling of unemployment? I hope that he will take that fact into consideration when he is making up the course of business for next week.

Several HON. MEMBERS rose—

Mr. SPEAKER

The question before the House is a question on business.

Major NATHAN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has never, under any Government since the War, been any hesitation to give a day for a Debate on this subject?

Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTE

With regard to the business on Thursday, may I ask whether the Minister of Agriculture is going to make a statement on agricultural policy on that day?

Mr. BUCHANAN

The right hon. Gentleman has put down a number of Supplementary Estimates for Thursday, and has also announced that he is going to take the Motion with regard to the appointment of a new Judge. In view of the fact that many of these Supplementary Estimates, and particularly the agricultural one, must arouse a great deal of discussion, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he intends that the House should sit unduly late on that day, and that the Motion on this very contentious matter of the appointment of a new Judge should be taken?

Mr. BALDWIN

If the hon. Member will look at my answer, he will find that there is not an agricultural Vote down. The Estimates are of a very uncontroversial nature. It is not, however, my intention to ask the House to take the Motion regarding the Judge unless it arises at a fairly respectable hour, nor is it my desire to ask the House to sit late, at any rate, not beyond midnight.

Major NATHAN

In view of the coincidence of the abnormal increase in unemployment with the operation of the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act—[interruption.]

Motion made, and Question put, That the Proceedings of the Committee of Ways and Means be exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of the

Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."—[Mr. Baldwin.]

The House divided: Ayes, 390; Noes, 45.

Division No. 50.] AYES. [4.0 p.m.
Acland-Troyte, Lieut-Colonel Cooper, A. Duff Hall, Lieut.-Col. Sir F. (Dulwich)
Adams, Samuel Vyvyan T. (Leeds, W.) Copeland, Ida Hall, Capt. W. D'Arcy (Brecon)
Agnew, Lieut.-Com. P. G. Courthope, Colonel Sir George L. Hamilton, Sir George (Ilford)
Albery, Irving James Cowan, D. M. Hamilton, Sir R. W.(Orkney & Zetl'nd)
Allen, Sir J. Sandeman (Liverp'l, W.) Craddock, Sir Reginald Henry Hanley, Dennis A.
Allen, Lt.-Col. J. Sandeman (B'k'nh'd.) Craven-Ellis, William Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry
Allen, William (Stoke-on-Trent) Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. Harbord, Arthur
Amery, Rt. Hon. Leopold C. M. S. Crooke, J. Smedley Harris, Sir Percy
Anstruther-Gray, W. J. Crookshank, Col. C. de Windt (Bootle) Hartland, George A.
Applin, Lieut.-Col. Reginald V. K. Crookshank, Capt. H. C. (Gainsb'ro) Harvey, George (Lambeth, Kenningt'n)
Apsley, Lord Cross, R. H. Haslam, Henry (Lindsay, H'ncastle)
Aske, Sir Robert William Crossley, A. C. Haslam, Sir John (Bolton)
Astor, Maj. Hn. John J.(Kent, Dover) Curry, A. C. Headlam, Lieut.-Col. Cuthbert M.
Astor, Viscountess (Plymouth, Sutton) Dalkeith, Earl of Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur P.
Atholl, Duchess of Davies, Maj. Geo. F,(Somerset, Yeovil) Hillman, Dr. George B.
Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley Davison, Sir William Henry Hills. Major Rt. Hon. John Waller
Balfour, Capt. Harold (I, of Thanet) Dawson, Sir Philip Hoare, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir S. J. G.
Balniel, Lord Denman, Hon. R. D. Holdsworth, Herbert
Barclay-Harvey, C. M. Denville, Alfred Hope, Capt. Arthur O. J. (Aston)
Barrie, Sir Charles Coupar Despencer-Robertson, Major J. A. F. Hope, Sydney (Chester, Stalybridge)
Beaumont, M. W. (Bucks., Aylesbury) Dickie, John P. Hore-Belisha, Leslie
Beaumont, Hon. R.E.B. (Portsm'th, C.) Dixon, Rt. Hon, Herbart Hornby, Frank
Benn, Sir Arthur Shirley Donner, P. W. Horne, Rt. Hon. Sir Robert S.
Bernays, Robert Dower, Captain A. V. G. Horobin, Ian M.
Betterton, Rt. Hon. Sir Henry B. Duckworth, George A. V. Horsbrugh, Florence
Birchall, Major Sir John Dearman Dugdale, Captain Thomas Lionel Howard, Tom Forrest
Bird, Ernest Roy (Yorks., Skipton) Duggan, Hubert John Howitt, Dr. Alfred B.
Blindell, James Duncan, James A.L.(Kensington, N.) Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney, N.)
Borodale, Viscount. Dunglass, Lord Hudson, Robert Spear (Southport)
Boulton, W. W. Eady, George H. Hume, Sir George Hopwood
Bower, Lieut.-Com. Robert Tatton Eales, John Frederick Hunter, Dr. Joseph (Dumfries)
Bowyer, Capt. Sir George E. W. Eden, Robert Anthony Hunter, Capt. M. J. (Brigg)
Boyce, H. Leslie Edge, Sir William Hurd, Percy A.
Braithwalte, Maj. A. N. (Yorks, E. R.) Edmondson, Major A. J. Hurst, Sir Gerald B.
Braithwaite, J. G. (Hillsborough) Elliot, Major Rt. Hon. Walter E. Iveagh, Countess of
Briant, Frank Ellis, Robert Geoffrey Jackson, Sir Henry (Wandsworth, C.)
Briscoe, Capt. Richard George Elliston, Captain George Sampson Jackson, J. C. (Heywood & Radcliffe)
Broadbent, Colonel John Elmley, Viscount James, Wing-Com. A. W. H.
Brocklebank, C. E. R. Emmott, Charles E. G. C. Jamieson, Douglas
Brown, Col. D. C. (N'th'l'd., Hexham) Emrys-Evans, P. V. Janner, Barnett
Brown, Ernest (Leith) Entwistle, Cyril Fullard Jesson, Major Thomas E.
Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Berks., Newb'y) Erskine, Lord (Weston-super-Mare) Joel, Dudley J. Barnato
Browne, Captain A. C. Erskine-Bolst, Capt. C. C. (Blk'pool) Johnston, J. W. (Clackmannan)
Buchan-Hepburn, P. G. T. Essenhigh, Reginald Clare Jones, Henry Haydn (Merioneth)
Bullock, Captain Malcolm Evans. R. T. (Carmarthen) Jones, Lewis (Swansea, West)
Burghley, Lord Everard, W. Lindsay Ker, J. Campbell
Burnett, John George Falle, Sir Bertram G. Kerr, Hamilton W.
Cadogan, Hon. Edward Fermoy, Lord Kimball, Lawrence
Caine, G. R. Hall. Fielden, Edward Brocklehurst Kirkpatrick, William M.
Campbell, Rear-Adml. G. (Burnley) Fleming, Edward Lascelles Knatchbull, Captain Hon. M. H. R.
Campbell-Johnston, Malcolm Foot, Dingle (Dundee) Knebworth, Viscount
Caporn, Arthur Cecil Foot, Isaac (Cornwall, Bodmin) Knox, Sir Alfred
Carver, Major William H. Ford, Sir Patrick J. Lamb, Sir Joseph Quinton
Castlereagh, Viscount Fraser, Captain Ian Lambert, Rt. Hon. George
Castle Stewart, Earl Fremantle, Lieut.-Colonel Francis E. Latham, Sir Herbert Paul
Cautley, Sir Henry S. Ganzoni, Sir John Law, Sir Alfred
Cayzer, Sir Charles (Chester, City) Gault, Lieut.-Col. A. Hamilton Law, Richard K. (Hull, S. W.)
Cazalet, Thelma (Islington, E.) Gibson, Charles Granville Leckie, J. A.
Chalmers, John Rutherford Gillett, Sir George Masterman Leech, Dr. J. W.
Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Edgbaston) Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John Lees-Jones, John
Chapman, Sir Samuel (Edinburgh, S.) Glossop, C. W. H. Levy, Thomas
Chorlton, Alan Ernest Leofric Gluckstein, Louis Halle Liddall, Walter S.
Chotzner, Alfred James Glyn, Major Ralph G. C. Lister, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip Cunliffe.
Christie, James Archibald Goff, Sir Park Llewellin, Major John J.
Clarke, Frank Goldie, Noel B. Lloyd, Geoffrey
Clarry, Reginald George Goodman, Colonel Albert W. Locker-Lampson, Rt. Hn. G.(Wd. Gr'n)
Clayton, Dr. George C. Graham, Fergus (Cumberland, N.) Loder, Captain J. de Vere
Clydesdale, Marquess of Grattan-Doyle, Sir Nicholas Lovat-Fraser, James Alexander
Collox, Major William Philip Gretton, Colonel Rt. Hon. John Lumley, Captain Lawrence R.
Collins, Sir Godfrey Griffith, F. Kingsley (Middlesbro', W.) Lyons, Abraham Montagu
Colman, N. C. D. Grimston, R. V. Mabane, William
Colville, Major David John Guinness, Thomas L. E. B. MacAndrew, Mal. C. G. (Partick)
Conant, R. J. E Gunston, Captain D. W. MacAndrew, Capt. J. O. (Ayr)
Cook, Thomas A. Guy, J. C. Morrison McConnell, Sir Joseph
Cooke, James D. Hales, Harold K. McCorquodale, M. [...]
Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) Procter, Major Henry Adam Spencer, Captain Richard A.
McEwen, J. H. F. Purbrick, R. Spender-Clay, Rt. Hon. Herbert H.
McKeag, William Pybus, Percy John Stanley, Hon. O. F. G. (Westmorland)
McKie, John Hamilton Raikes, Henry V. A. M. Steel-Maitland, Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur
Maclay, Hon. Joseph Paton Ramsay, Capt. A. H. M. (Midlothian) Stevenson, James
McLean, Major Alan Ramsay, T. B. W. (Western Isles) Stewart, William J.
McLean, Dr. W. H. (Tradeston) Ramsbotham, Herwald Stones, James
Macmillan, Maurice Harold Ramsden, E. Storey, Samuel
Macpherson, Rt. Hon. James I. Rankin, Robert Strauss, Edward A.
Magnay, Thomas Ratcliffe, Arthur Strickland, Captain W. F.
Maitland, Adam Reed, Arthur C. (Exeter) Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn)
Makins, Brigadier-General Ernest Reid, David D. (County Down) Sueter, Rear-Admiral Murray F.
Mallalieu, Edward Lancelot Reid, James S. C. (Stirling) Sutcliffe, Harold
Mender, Geoffrey le M. Reid, William Allan (Derby) Tate, Mavis Constance
Manningharn-Buller, Lt.-Col. Sir M. Remer, John R. Taylor, Vice-Admiral E.A. (P'dd'gt'n, S.)
Margesson, Capt. Henry David R. Rentoul, Sir Gervals S. Templeton, William P.
Marjoribanks, Edward Rhys, Hon. Charles Arthur U. Thomas, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Derby)
Marsden, Commander Arthur Roberts, Aled (Wrexham) Thomas, James P. L. (Hereford)
Martin, Thomas B. Robinson, John Roland Thomas, Major L. B. (King's Norton)
Mayhew, Lieut.-Colonel John Rodd, Rt. Hon. Sir James Rennell Thompson, Luke
Millar, Sir James Duncan Ropner, Colonel L. Titchlield, Major the Marquess of
Mills, Sir Frederick Rosbotham, S. T. Todd, Capt. A. J. K. (B'wick-on-T.)
Milne, Charles Ross Taylor, Walter (Woodbridge) Touche, Gordon Cosmo
Milne, John Sydney Wardlaw Rothschild, James A. de Train, John
Mitchell, Harold P. (Br'tf'd & Chisw'k) Ruggles-Brise, Colonel E. A. Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement
Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham) Runciman, Rt. Hon. Walter Turton, Robert Hugh
Mitcheson, G. G. Runge, Norah Cecil Vaughan-Morgan, Sir Kenyon
Molson, A. Hugh Elsdale Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) Wallace, Captain D. E. (Hornsey)
Moore, Lt.-Col. Thomas C. R. (Ayr) Russell, Hamer Field (Sheffield, B'tside) Wallace, John (Dunfermline)
Moore-Brabazon, Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. Russell, Richard John (Eddisbury) Ward, Lt.-Col. Sir A. L. (Hull)
Morris, John Patrick (Salford, N.) Rutherford, Sir John Hugo Ward, Irene Mary Bewick (Wallsend)
Morris-Jones, Dr. J. H. (Denbigh) Salmon, Major Isidore Ward, Sarah Adelaide (Cannock)
Morrison, William Shephard Salt, Edward W. Waterhouse, Captain Charles
Moss, Captain H. J. Samuel, Sir Arthur Michael (F'nham) Watt, Captain George Steven H.
Muirhead, Major A. J. Samuel, Rt. Hon. Sir H. (Darwen) Wayland, Sir William A.
Munro, Patrick Sandeman, Sir A. N. Stewart Wedderburn, Henry James Scrymgeour.
Nathan, Major H. L. Sassoon, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip A. G. D. Wells, Sydney Richard
Nation, Brigadier-General J. J. H. Savery, Samuel Servington Weymouth, Viscount
Newton, Sir Douglas George C. Scone, Lord White, Henry Graham
Nicholson, Godfrey (Morpeth) Shakespeare, Geoffrey H. Whiteside, Borras Noel H.
Nicholson, Rt. Hn. W. G. (Petersf'ld) Shaw, Helen B. (Lanark, Bothwell) Whyte, Jardine Bell
Normand, Wilfrid Guild Shepperson, Sir Ernest W. Williams, Charles (Devon, Torquay)
North, Captain Edward T. Simmonds, Oliver Edwin Wills, Wilfrid D.
Nunn, William Sinclair, Maj. Rt. Hn. Sir A. (C'thness) Wilson, G. H. A. (Cambridge U.)
O'Connor, Terence James Sinclair, Col. T. (Queen's Unv., Belfast) Windsor-Clive, Lieut-Colonel George
O'Neill, Rt. Hon. Sir Hugh Skelton, Archibald Noel Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl
Palmer, Francis Noel Smith, R. W. (Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.) Womersley, Walter James
Patrick, Colin M. Smith-Carington, Neville W. Wood, Rt. Hon. Sir H. Kingsley
Pearson, William G. Smithers, Waldron Wood, Sir Murdoch Mckenzie (Banff)
Penny, Sir George Somervell, Donald Bradley Worthington, Dr. John V.
Petherick, M. Somerville, Annesley A. (Windsor) Wragg, Herbert
Peto, Geoffrey K. (W'verh'pt'n, Bliston) Somerville, D. G. (Willesden, East) Young, Rt. Hon. Sir Hilton (S'v'noaks)
Pickering, Ernest H. Soper, Richard Young, Ernest J. (Middlesbrough, E.)
Pike, Cecil F. Sotheron-Estcourt, Captain T. E.
Potter, John Southby, Commander Archibald R. J. TELLERS FOR THE AYES.
Powell, Lieut.-Col. Evelyn G. H. Spears, Brigadier-General Edward L. Sir Frederick Thomson and Mr. Russell Rea.
NOES.
Adams, D. M. (Poplar, South) Hall, F. (York, W.R., Normanton) Mason, David M. (Edinburgh, E.)
Attlee, Clement Richard Hall, George H. (Merthyr Tydvil) Maxton, James
Batey, Joseph Hicks, Ernest George Parkinson, John Allen
Bevan, Aneurin (Ebbw Vale) Hirst, George Henry Price, Gabriel
Buchanan, George Jenkins, Sir William Salter, Dr. Alfred
Cocks, Frederick Seymour Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) Thorne, William James
Cripps, Sir Stafford Kirkwood, David Tinker, John Joseph
Dagger, George Lansbury, Rt. Hon. George Wallhead, Richard C.
Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) Lawson, John James Watts-Morgan, Lieut.-Col. David
Devlin, Joseph Leonard, William Wedgwood, Rt. Hon. Josiah
Edwards, Charles Logan, David Gilbert Williams, David (Swansea, East)
George, Major G. Lloyd (Pembroke) Lunn, William Williams, Or. John H. (Llanelly)
Grenfell, David Rees (Glamorgan) Macdonald, Gordon (Ince) Williams, Thomas (York, Don Valley}
Griffiths, T. (Monmouth, Pontypool) McEntee, Valentine L.
Groves, Thomas E. McGovern, John TELLERS FOR THE NOES.
Grundy, Thomas W. Maclean, Nell (Glasgow, Govan) Mr. John and Mr. Duncan Graham.

Question put, and agreed to.