HC Deb 05 May 1936 vol 311 cc1654-5

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Mr. TINKER

I understood to-day from the Prime Minister that if we did not reach this Bill until a late hour, he would not press it to-night. Does he propose to proceed with the Bill now? We are not prepared to let the Bill go easily, and it may stop other business from being taken.

10.26 p.m.

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Captain Margesson)

The Government have no wish to press the consideration of this Bill to-night if the Leader of the Opposition feels that the hour is too late. The Prime Minister certainly said at Question Time that he did not wish to embark upon the Measure late at night. It seemed to me that as it was only 25 minutes past 10 o'clock and there is only one Amendment on the Order Paper, possibly the Committee might have felt disposed to proceed with the business and still get home at a reasonable hour. I say to the Opposition and to the Committee as a whole that, if it is felt to-night that it is too late to proceed with the Committee stage of this small Bill, although there is only one Amendment on the Paper, the Government do not intend to ask the House to sit late and are prepared to put it off until another night on the understanding that we obtain the Second Reading of the Weights and Measures Bill.

Mr. ATTLEE

The course suggested by the Patronage Secretary is a wise one. It is never quite possible to tell how long even a small Bill on which there is one Amendment will take. That one Amendment in this case relates to the substance of the whole of the Bill, and I think that it is wiser to agree to take the Weights and Measures Bill and allow the Pensions Bill to stand over.

Motion made, and Question, That the Chairman do report Progress; and ask leave to sit again."—[Captain Margesson.] put, and agreed to: Committee report Progress; to sit again To-morrow.