BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

HC Deb 05 August 1943 vol 391 cc2463-6

Mr. Greenwood

May I ask the Leader of the House whether he will state the Business of the House for our next series of Sittings, after the Recess?

Mr. Eden

Yes, Sir. The Business for the first week after the Recess will be as follows:

First Sitting Day—A statement will be made on the war situation, and an opportunity will arise for a Debate;

Second Sitting Day—Second Reading of the Water Undertakings Bill [Lords]. This Bill has been held up for some time, and we have to take it soon.

Third Sitting Day—The Business will be announced later.

Mr. Bellenger

May I ask the Leader of the House when he contemplates that it will be possible to have the proposed Debate on the man-power situation, and, further, whether that Debate will include a review of the use or misuse of manpower in the Services?

Mr. Eden

I do not know about the Services, but my intention was that the Debate should cover both subjects upon which questions have been raised, namely, the recruitment of young men for the coalmines, the calling-up of the new classes of women, and man-power generally. The Debate will be as wide as possible.

Mr. Bellenger

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the whole question of the use of man-power in the Services is part of the cognate problem of the proper use of the man-power of this country?

Sir H. Williams

As notice has been given for a Debate on the Prayer regarding the Fire Guard Orders for the second Sitting Day of our next series, can my right hon. Friend indicate whether the Debate on the Water Undertakings Bill will take long?

Mr. Eden

It was my hope that there will be time for both.

Sir H. Williams

There can always be time for the Fire Guard Orders, because they are exempted Business, but there was a desire to take them early in view of the general interest.

Mr. Eden

I hope the first Bill will not take very long and that we shall be able to come on to the Fire Guard Orders quite early.

Sir T. Moore

In view of the assurance of the Leader of the House that a Debate will now take place on the man-power problem, could the question of women aged 45 to 50 be deferred until the House has had an opportunity of registering its decision on that Debate?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir, that has already been dealt with. I am not prepared to go beyond what I have said. I must make it plain that it was our intention to have a Debate on this man-power question in any event shortly after the House resumes and also the question of the recruitment of man-power for the mines.

Mr. Bowles

Will the statement on the war situation to be made on the first Sitting Day of our next series of Sittings be debated?

Mr. Eden

Yes, Sir, I have already said So.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

If the House is recalled during the Recess, does my right hon. Friend contemplate our meeting at a different hour from the normal hour?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir.

Mr. Gallacher

I want to ask the Leader of the House whether, in view of this statement regarding the Debate on the war when the House resumes, he will draw the attention of the War Cabinet to the fact that the capture of Orel provides an opportunity for bringing the war to a very speedy conclusion? Further, will he take the necessary action before we have that Debate so that we shall have something to debate, or would he like me to approach the War Cabinet?

Mr. Eden

I would like to assure the hon. Member that the Orel news is grand news for this House to-day, but I think he would also agree that the British and American Forces have made their contribution recently and that we have some confidence that that contribution will continue between now and when we meet again.

Sir W. Davison:

I am not quite clear. Have we an undertaking that no further action in the way of registering these women of 45 to 50 will be taken—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—until the House has had an opportunity of discussing the matter?

Mr. Eden

No, I could not possibly give that assurance. The assurance which has been given is that nobody will be called up for interview pending the discussion in this House.

Mr. A. Bevan

Is it not perfectly clear that effective registration must take place in the meantime in order that the House may have the facts before them before the Debate?

Sir Ralph Glyn

May I ask my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House to bear in mind the fact that he has promised that a suitable occasion will be found for this House to debate the war effort of the Dominions, especially Canada?

Mr. Eden

I am afraid I had not that in mind, but I will look into the matter.

Mr. De la Bére

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether, immediately after the Recess, an opportunity will be afforded for a discussion on a long-term policy for British agriculture and whether he will lift the silence ban on a discussion of this matter, in view of its importance to the nation?

Mr. Eden

I cannot give any such undertaking.

Mr. De la Bére

Is it not high time that we had a discussion on this matter, which is long overdue?

Mr. Martin

If the House is recalled during the Recess, will there be a Debate on the war situation as well as a Debate on the war on the first Sitting Day of our next series of Sittings?

Mr. Eden

We must wait and see what is the occasion for our recall and whether the holidays hive to be broken into.