HC Deb 19 October 1950 vol 478 cc2238-9
Mr. Speaker

Arising out of Business, I should like to make a statement about next week because I have no doubt hon. Members are rather wondering what will happen on Thursday next and, perhaps on some of the intervening days, seeing that our Speakers from overseas and Presidents of the Assemblies are already here. I hope that as many hon. Members as are in London and able to attend will be at the service on Sunday when pews will be kept vacant for Members of Parliament until 10 minutes to 11. If they are not there, then they will have to take their chance with the rest of the congregation. Speakers from overseas will be met by the rector at the West Door and escorted to their pews by the vergers and the churchwardens.

Coming to Tuesday, there is a Motion for an Address to His Majesty which the Lord President of the Council has mentioned. It will be moved by the Prime Minister and it will be the speech I shall make on Thursday on behalf of the House of Commons. That will be moved by the Prime Minister and seconded by the Leader of the Opposition. Normally a Privy Councillor does not require a seconder, but this is not a Government Motion, this is a House of Commons Motion and, therefore, I thought it right that it should be moved from one side of the House and seconded from the other and then supported by hon. Members, "whose speeches"—to use the old fashioned expression—" would contain appropriate expressions befitting the occasion." I mention that because that would be the only opportunity for Members to voice these appropriate expressions; on the Thursday there will not be time.

On that day we meet at 10.15 a.m. which is rather early, but we have been through a very careful timetable, and we cannot make it later. After Prayers I understand that if the House so wishes the Speaker of the House of Commons will give a formal welcome to our visitors from overseas on coming to our new home. After that, the Prime Minister will move, and the Leader of the Opposition will second, a Motion to them, which I believe will be supported by the Leader of the Liberal Party and the Father of the House. I have had to write to all of them to ask them to make their speeches short, because I must suspend the Sitting not later than 10.50 a.m. if we are to get into Westminster Hall in time to receive His Majesty. It will not be a procession of Members. We shall not be summoned by Black Rod to attend in Westminster Hall so Members will make their own way to their places in Westminster Hall. But at a certain time I shall lead the Speakers of the Dominions and the Presidents of their Assemblies into Westminster Hall. where they will go to special places. If I may, I advise hon. Members to go early. After all, those who come first will probably get the best seats.

When we come back at 2.45—I shall suspend the Sitting from 10.50 until 2.45—we prorogue. I give notice that as the Prorogation is only for a long weekend I shall not expect the ceremony of shaking hands to take place. I hope that statement may be of some help to Members. They will remember that the Minister of Works, on my authority—because the House will have been handed over at 10 o'clock on Thursday—has made arrangements so that during the lunch hour Members will be able to take their guests into the Galleries of the new House of Commons before we meet at 2.45. That is all I have to say. I hope that it will help Members in their ideas about next week.