HC Deb 19 October 1939 vol 352 cc1049-50
Mr. Attlee

May I ask the Prime Minister whether he will state the business for next week?

The Prime Minister

The business will be:

Tuesday—Consideration of Government of India and Government of Burma Draft Orders, and of the Opposition Motion with regard to the Personal Injuries (Civilian Scheme), 1939.

Wednesday—Committee and remaining stages of the Prices of Goods Bill.

Thursday—Statement on a Motion for the Adjournment of the House, and consideration of any outstanding Business.

The House will not sit on Friday.

Mr. Attlee

I beg to give notice that, subject to there not being a long Debate on the Prime Minister's statement next Thursday, we intend to raise the subject of India and the war.

Mr. J. Morgan

Seeing that we are not meeting on Mondays as a rule, how can we discuss business relating to questions, such as that answered by the Minister of Agriculture just now, dealing with important aspects of the State's activities? There are no facilities for discussing these activities. Can any be provided?

The Prime Minister

Subjects can always be raised on the Adjournment.

Mr. Morgan

But we have no facilities for questioning. The Minister of Agriculture invariably comes at the tail end of the list of questions on Thursdays, and Mondays are excluded. It is most important at the present juncture that some facilities should be provided for dealing with agricultural matters by way of question and answer.

Miss Wilkinson

In view of the urgent importance to the House of such statements as that made by the Home Secretary and that which ought to have been made by the Minister of Agriculture, I hope that Ministers will not take the hilarity which was shown by this House to mean that we do not appreciate the importance of these statements and that they are not really necessary.

Resolved, That this House, at its rising this day, do adjourn till Tuesday next."—[The Prime Minister.]